title: Delivering laboratory results by text message and e-mail: a survey of factors associated with conceptual acceptability among STD clinic attendees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines factors associated with the acceptability of receiving sexually transmitted disease (STD) laboratory results by text message and e-mail among clinic attendees.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous self-administered survey was conducted with a convenience sample of STD clinic attendees in South Carolina and Mississippi in 2009-2010. In total, 2,719 individuals with a median age of 26 years (interquartile range, 21-32 years) completed the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 70% had Internet access at home, and 80% reported using text messaging daily. Participants preferred receiving laboratory results by text message compared with e-mail (50.2% versus 42.3%; p<0.001). Acceptability of receiving laboratory results by text message was higher with younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.26), daily use of text messaging (aOR 1.30; 95% CI 1.14-1.49), and reporting cell phone and text message as the preferred choice of regular communication with the clinic (aOR 2.31; 95% CI 1.50-3.58) and was significantly lower in female subjects (aOR 0.89; 95% CI 0.81-0.98) and those with college-level education (aOR 0.88; 95% CI 0.77-0.99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A majority of STD clinic attendees have access to cell phones and Internet. The acceptability of receiving STD laboratory results electronically may facilitate test result delivery to patients and expedite treatment of infected individuals.
authors: Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina , Columbia, South Carolina, USA. atripathi@umc.edu
authors: Avnish
authors: A
authors: Tripathi
authors: Wayne A
authors: WA
authors: Duffus
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Kissinger
authors: Timothy J
authors: TJ
authors: Brown
authors: James J
authors: JJ
authors: Gibson
authors: Leandro A
authors: LA
authors: Mena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003954:Diagnostic Services; D030881:Disclosure; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008922:Mississippi; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013022:South Carolina; D060145:Text Messaging; D055815:Young Adult