A randomized trial of home versus clinic-based sexually transmitted disease screening among men.
BACKGROUND
Preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) remains a public health challenge. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests STD screening among men will likely lead to a decrease in infection rates of women. However, innovative approaches are necessary to increase the traditionally low rates of male screening. The purpose of this study is to compare the acceptability and effectiveness of home-based versus clinic-based urine screening for CT and GC in men.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized clinical trial of 200 men aged 18 to 45 years who reside in St. Louis, MO. Men were enrolled via telephone and randomly assigned to receive a free urine CT/GC screening kit either in-person at the research clinic or to have it mailed to the participant's preferred address. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline and 10 to 12 weeks postenrollment. The primary outcome was whether STD screening was completed.


RESULTS
Sixty percent (120/200) completed STD screening. Men assigned to home-based screening were 60% more likely to complete screening compared with clinic-based screening (72% vs. 48%, RRadj = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3, 2.00). We identified 4 cases of CT or GC in the home-based group compared with 3 cases of CT in the clinic group. Men who completed screening were significantly more likely to be white, younger, and college educated.


CONCLUSIONS
Home-based screening for CT and GC among men is more acceptable than clinic-based screening and resulted in higher rates of screening completion. Incorporating home-based methods as adjuncts to traditional STD screening options shows promise in improving STD screening rates in men.
Division of Clinical Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Mary M
MM
Reagan
Hanna
H
Xu
Shirley L
SL
Shih
Gina M
GM
Secura
Jeffrey F
JF
Peipert
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054526:Men's Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic