title: 'Catching chlamydia': combining cash incentives and community pharmacy access for increased chlamydia screening, the view of young people.
abstract: In Australia and elsewhere, chlamydia screening rates for those aged between 16 and 30 years continue to be low. Innovative, age-appropriate approaches are necessary to increase chlamydia screening among this target group to prevent short- and long-term consequences of the infection such as pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Studies have demonstrated that offering chlamydia screening in community pharmacies may be a useful adjunct to current screening services. Approximately 90% of Australians visit a pharmacy at least once a year. Chlamydia screening and education in community pharmacies with remuneration may provide another option for opportunistic testing as part of a national chlamydia screening scheme. Compensation is an accepted practice in the field of research and has been demonstrated to improve adherence to health promotion activities. In 2011, a cross-sectional study of community pharmacy-based chlamydia screening offered in conjunction with an A$10 cash incentive to participate was conducted in the Australian Capital Territory. As part of this study young people were asked about their experience of, and views about, pharmacy-based chlamydia screening. The views of consented participants were collected using the one-page questionnaire consisting of 10 closed questions and one open-ended question. Participants completed the questionnaire when they returned their urine sample and before being given the cash incentive. Overall participants were highly satisfied with the pharmacy-based chlamydia screening service. Over 60% of questionnaire respondents felt that the payment did affect their decision to have the chlamydia test, and 23% stated that it made no difference. Young people reported that pharmacy-based screening is acceptable and convenient. Accessibility and the small cash incentive played significant roles in increasing participation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Rhian M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Internal Medicine, The Australian National University Medical School, Building 4, Level 2, Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2606, Australia.
authors.forename: Marian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Internal Medicine, The Australian National University Medical School, Building 4, Level 2, Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2606, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Deeks
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Internal Medicine, The Australian National University Medical School, Building 4, Level 2, Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2606, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Canberra Sexual Health Centre, Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2606, Australia.
authors.forename: Rendry
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Rosario
authors.affiliation: Centre for Women's Health, Gender and Society, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Level 3/207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hocking
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Internal Medicine, The Australian National University Medical School, Building 4, Level 2, Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2606, Australia.
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Bowden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D012201:Reward; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult