title: Exploring the costs and outcomes of sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening interventions targeting men in football club settings: preliminary cost-consequence analysis of the SPORTSMART pilot randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to compare the costs and outcomes of two sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening interventions targeted at men in football club settings in England, including screening promoted by team captains.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparison of costs and outcomes was undertaken alongside a pilot cluster randomised control trial involving three trial arms: (1) captain-led and poster STI screening promotion; (2) sexual health advisor-led and poster STI screening promotion and (3) poster-only STI screening promotion (control/comparator). For all study arms, resource use and cost data were collected prospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was considerable variation in uptake rates between clubs, but results were broadly comparable across study arms with 50% of men accepting the screening offer in the captain-led arm, 67% in the sexual health advisor-led arm and 61% in the poster-only control arm. The overall costs associated with the intervention arms were similar. The average cost per player tested was comparable, with the average cost per player tested for the captain-led promotion estimated to be £88.99 compared with £88.33 for the sexual health advisor-led promotion and £81.87 for the poster-only (control) arm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Costs and outcomes were similar across intervention arms. The target sample size was not achieved, and we found a greater than anticipated variability between clubs in the acceptability of screening, which limited our ability to estimate acceptability for intervention arms. Further evidence is needed about the public health benefits associated with screening interventions in non-clinical settings so that their cost-effectiveness can be fully evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Unit, School of Population and Health Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Louise J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Unit, School of Population and Health Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Tracy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology & Infectious Disease: Sexual Health & HIV, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sebastian S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology & Infectious Disease: Sexual Health & HIV, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: Lorna J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sutcliffe
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Unit, School of Population and Health Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Centre for Immunology & Infectious Disease: Sexual Health & HIV, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK Division of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Brighton, Falmer, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology & Infectious Disease: Sexual Health & HIV, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Copas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Brighton, Falmer, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: Jackie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cassell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology & Infectious Disease: Sexual Health & HIV, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: Claudia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Estcourt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England; D005538:Football; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CHLAMYDIA INFECTION; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; OUTREACH SERVICES; SCREENING