Chlamydia testing in community pharmacies: evaluation of a feasibility pilot in south east London.
OBJECTIVE
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a common sexually transmitted infection with serious sequelae. Excellent access to testing, treatment and contact tracing are an essential part of strategies to control it. With traditional sexual health services over-stretched, community pharmacies are well placed to provide this service. They have the potential to improve access by offering chlamydia testing and treatment from high street venues with long opening hours. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability to users and pharmacists of this service in independent community pharmacies.


METHODS
A chlamydia testing and treatment service was offered in three community pharmacies in two inner London boroughs for a 3-month pilot. Data on the feasibility and acceptability of the new service were collected via a survey of client experience, in-depth semistructured interviews with clients and pharmacists, and structured evaluation reports completed by professional patients paid to visit the pharmacies.


RESULTS
83 tests were taken with eight (9.5%) of these positive for C trachomatis. Of those tested, 94% (n = 73) were women and 71% (n = 56) were from ethnic minorities. 80 clients completed the questionnaires and 24 clients were interviewed. Most clients heard about the service from the pharmacist when requesting emergency contraception and 16% (n = 13) would not otherwise have been tested. Clients valued the speed and convenience of the service and the friendly, non-judgmental approach of the pharmacist. Confidentiality when asking for the service at the counter was suboptimal, and the pharmacist trained to deliver the service was not always available to provide it.


CONCLUSIONS
Chlamydia testing and treatment in community pharmacies is feasible and acceptable to users. The service increases access among young women at high risk of sexually transmitted infection but not among young men.
Baraitser
P
P
Lambeth and Southwark Sexual Health Modernisation Programme, London, UK. paula_baraitser@mac.com
Pearce
V
V
Holmes
J
J
Horne
N
N
Boynton
P M
PM
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003219:Confidentiality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Jun;164(6 Pt 2):1771-81
2039031
Contraception. 2002 Oct;66(4):251-3
12413621
Int J Impot Res. 2004 Oct;16 Suppl 2:S50-2
15496859
J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2005 Oct;31(4):281-4
16274549
BMJ. 2001 Jan 27;322(7280):195-9
11159612
J Public Health Med. 2003 Mar;25(1):13-8
12669912
J Infect Dis. 2005 Sep 1;192(5):824-36
16088832
Sex Transm Infect. 2001 Oct;77(5):335-9
11588278
BMJ. 2001 Jan 27;322(7280):186-7
11159636
BMJ. 1997 Jun 14;314(7096):1719-23
9185497
Fam Pract. 2004 Dec;21(6):670-6
15520031
BMJ. 2001 Jul 21;323(7305):146-7
11463686