title: Socio-demographic and structural barriers to being tested for chlamydia in general practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate socio-demographic and structural factors associated with not providing a specimen for chlamydia testing following a request by a general practitioner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of chlamydia testing data for men and women aged 16-29 years attending general practice clinics participating in a cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a chlamydia testing intervention. The study period was the 2013 calendar year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of chlamydia test requests for which the patient did not provide a specimen for testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, there were 13 225 chlamydia test requests, for which a chlamydia test was not performed in 2545 instances (19.2%; 95% CI, 16.5-22.3%). Multivariate analysis indicated that the odds for not undertaking a requested test were higher for men (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3-1.6), those aged 16-19 years (aOR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4), those living in areas of greater socio-economic disadvantage (aOR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4 for each additional quintile of Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage), and those attending clinics without on-site pathology collection (aOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-1.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One in five young people did not submit a specimen for chlamydia testing despite their GP requesting it. This highlights the need for clinics to establish systems which ensure that men and those aged 16-19 years undertake chlamydia tests requested by a GP.
authors: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC j.hocking@unimelb.edu.au.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Lau
authors: Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Spark
authors: Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Tomnay
authors: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
authors: Meredith T
authors: MT
authors: Smith
authors: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.
authors: Christopher K
authors: CK
authors: Fairley
authors: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.
authors: Rebecca J
authors: RJ
authors: Guy
authors: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
authors: Basil
authors: B
authors: Donovan
authors: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
authors: Jane S
authors: JS
authors: Hocking
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population