Patient-delivered partner medication in the UK: an unlawful but popular choice.
Current methods of contact tracing are only partially effective. Patient-delivered partner medication (PDPM), in which patients are dispensed antibiotics for their sexual partner(s), has been shown to reduce persistent and recurrent infections. We performed a questionnaire to canvass opinions of UK staff and patients about PDPM. The response rate was 72% (88/122) for staff and 90% (473/525) for patients. The majority of staff (81%) thought that PDPM would be acceptable to patients, and should be combined with written information and a recommendation to attend a clinic. Patients were mostly (59%) in favour of PDPM, 87% thought it would make it easier to abstain from sex during treatment, and 94% indicated that after being given antibiotics by a partner, they would attend a clinic for tests. Concerns expressed by staff and patients included drug allergies, potential lack of information provided to partners, management of complicated infection, pregnancy and medicolegal implications.
Coyne
Katherine M
KM
HIV/GUM Directorate, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. katherine.coyne@chelwest.nhs.uk
Cohen
C E
CE
Smith
N A
NA
Mandalia
S
S
Barton
S
S
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016358:Contact Tracing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom