title: A Web-Based Respondent Driven Sampling Pilot Targeting Young People at Risk for Chlamydia Trachomatis in Social and Sexual Networks with Testing: A Use Evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the aim of targeting high-risk hidden heterosexual young people for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) testing, an innovative web-based screening strategy using Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) and home-based CT testing, was developed, piloted and evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two STI clinic nurses encouraged 37 CT positive heterosexual young people (aged 16-25 years), called index clients, to recruit peers from their social and sexual networks using the web-based screening strategy. Eligible peers (young, living in the study area) could request a home-based CT test and recruit other peers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve (40%) index clients recruited 35 peers. Two of these peers recruited other peers (n = 7). In total, 35 recruited peers were eligible for participation; ten of them (29%) requested a test and eight tested. Seven tested for the first time and one (13%) was positive. Most peers were female friends (80%). Nurses were positive about using the strategy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The screening strategy is feasible for targeting the hidden social network. However, uptake among men and recruitment of sex-partners is low and RDS stopped early. Future studies are needed to explore the sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and impact of strategies that target people at risk who are not effectively reached by regular health care.
authors: Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Services, 6160 HA, Geleen, The Netherlands. Kevin.Theunissen@ggdzl.nl.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Theunissen
authors: Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Services, 6160 HA, Geleen, The Netherlands. christian.hoebe@ggdzl.nl.|Department of Medical Microbiology, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. christian.hoebe@ggdzl.nl.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Hoebe
authors: Department of Work & Social Psychology, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. g.kok@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Gerjo
authors: G
authors: Kok
authors: Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht 6202 AZ, The Netherlands. rik.crutzen@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Rik
authors: R
authors: Crutzen
authors: Faculty of Engineering and Informatics. University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK. c.karazaitri@bradford.ac.uk.
authors: Chakib
authors: C
authors: Kara-Zaïtri
authors: Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht 6202 AZ, The Netherlands. n.devries@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Nanne
authors: N
authors: de Vries
authors: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, RIVM National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven 3720 BA, The Netherlands. jan.van.Bergen@rivm.nl.|STI AIDS Netherlands, Amsterdam 1016 GB, The Netherlands. jan.van.Bergen@rivm.nl.|Department of General Practice, AMC-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands. jan.van.Bergen@rivm.nl.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: van Bergen
authors: In-Fact, Bradford BD17 7DB, UK. bob@in-fact.com.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hamilton
authors: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, RIVM National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven 3720 BA, The Netherlands. marianne.van.der.sande@rivm.nl.|Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht 3508 GA, The Netherlands. marianne.van.der.sande@rivm.nl.
authors: Marianne
authors: M
authors: van der Sande
authors: Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Services, 6160 HA, Geleen, The Netherlands. christian.hoebe@ggdzl.nl.|Department of Medical Microbiology, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. christian.hoebe@ggdzl.nl.
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Dukers-Muijrers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis; home-based test kits; partner notification; peer-referral; sexual networks; social networks; web-based respondent driven sampling