title: Improving sexually transmitted infection results notification via mobile phone technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve adolescent notification of positive sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests using mobile phone technology and STI information cards.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized intervention among 14- to 21-year olds in a pediatric emergency department (PED). A 2 × 3 factorial design with replication was used to evaluate the effectiveness of six combinations of two factors on the proportion of STI-positive adolescents notified within 7 days of testing. Independent factors included method of notification (call, text message, or call + text message) and provision of an STI information card with or without a phone number to obtain results. Covariates for logistic regression included age, empiric STI treatment, days until first attempted notification, and documentation of confidential phone number.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately half of the 383 females and 201 males enrolled were ≥18 years of age. Texting only or type of card was not significantly associated with patient notification rates, and there was no significant interaction between card and notification method. For females, successful notification was significantly greater for call + text message (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-6.9), and documenting a confidential phone number was independently associated with successful notification (odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-7.5). We found no significant predictors of successful notification for males. Of patients with a documented confidential phone number who received a call + text message, 94% of females and 83% of males were successfully notified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obtaining a confidential phone number and using call + text message improved STI notification rates among female but not male adolescents in a pediatric emergency department.
authors: Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Electronic address: jennifer.reed@cchmc.org.
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Reed
authors: Division of Gynecology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Jill S
authors: JS
authors: Huppert
authors: Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Regina G
authors: RG
authors: Taylor
authors: College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Gordon L
authors: GL
authors: Gillespie
authors: Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Terri L
authors: TL
authors: Byczkowski
authors: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Jessica A
authors: JA
authors: Kahn
authors: Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; The Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Evaline A
authors: EA
authors: Alessandrini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003219:Confidentiality; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Emergency medicine; Healthcare quality improvement; Sexually transmitted disease; Text messaging