Patient and partner perspectives on patient-delivered partner screening: acceptability, benefits, and barriers.
The study examined willingness to engage in patient-delivered partner screening (PDPS) and preferences for expedited partner services (EPS). Forty urban U.S. sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic patients participated in individual mixed-methods interviews exploring EPS preferences and PDPS willingness. Most participants selected PDPS and PDPT together and uptake varied by patient–partner relationship closeness. For PDPS, several potentially important barriers and benefits were identified. Perceived benefits included improved sexual health for patients and their sexual partner(s) as well as convenience, privacy, and the potential to enhance trust between sexual partners. Perceived barriers included concerns about PDPS processes (e.g., time it would take to receive the result, risk of sample contamination), the accuracy of results, STI stigma and associated blame, lack of trust for a sexual partner, and the packaging/appearance of the screening kit. PDPS affords benefits and may overcome treatment barriers in some situations; however, it shares common PDPT barriers and has its own unique challenges. There are also concerns regarding how the offer of PDPS may interact with PDPT utilization.
McBride
Kimberly R
KR
Department of Pychological & Brain Science, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, USA. kmcbride@indiana.edu
Goldsworthy
Richard C
RC
Fortenberry
J Dennis
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002947:Cities; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult