TY - JOUR
T1 - Interval to Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adolescent Females
AU - Malik, Amina I.
AU - Huppert, Jill S.
N1 - Funding Information:
Dr. Huppert was supported by a K-23 career development award (NIH/NIAID 5K23AI63182). Ms. Malik was supported by the Medical Student Summer Research Program at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (NIH/NIDDK T35 Training grant #DK 60444-05). This work was presented as oral platform at the annual meeting of the North American Society of Pediatrics and Adolescent Gynecology, May 19, 2006, Orlando, FL.
Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - Study Objective: To describe (1) the treatment interval for adolescent females with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), or Trichomonas vaginalis (TV); (2) the proportion treated in ≤7 days; and (3) factors influencing the treatment interval. Design and Participants: Charts of sexually active females from an urban teen health center who participated in a larger study and were positive for CT, GC or TV (N = 58) were retrospectively reviewed for dates of treatment, and compared to demographic and symptom data. The treatment interval was defined as days from visit to treatment. CT and/or GC were analyzed together (CT/GC) because presumptive treatment covered both infections, and the diagnostic test (nucleic acid amplification) differed from that of TV (wet mount or culture). Results: The median treatment interval was 0 days for TV, 5 days for CT/GC, and 3 days for any STI. Overall, 39 (69%) were treated within 7 days of their visit. Those with TV were more likely than those with CT/GC to receive treatment at their initial visit (58% vs. 6%). Genitourinary symptoms increased the odds of treatment in ≤7 days. The treatment interval was significantly shorter for subjects who had their prescriptions phoned to a pharmacy than for those who returned to clinic for treatment (median 2.5 vs. 8 days). Conclusions: Where presumptive treatment was uncommon, providers were more likely to prescribe same-day therapy to symptomatic patients or those with TV on wet mount. Additional strategies are needed to improve the proportion of adolescent females treated in ≤7 days.
AB - Study Objective: To describe (1) the treatment interval for adolescent females with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), or Trichomonas vaginalis (TV); (2) the proportion treated in ≤7 days; and (3) factors influencing the treatment interval. Design and Participants: Charts of sexually active females from an urban teen health center who participated in a larger study and were positive for CT, GC or TV (N = 58) were retrospectively reviewed for dates of treatment, and compared to demographic and symptom data. The treatment interval was defined as days from visit to treatment. CT and/or GC were analyzed together (CT/GC) because presumptive treatment covered both infections, and the diagnostic test (nucleic acid amplification) differed from that of TV (wet mount or culture). Results: The median treatment interval was 0 days for TV, 5 days for CT/GC, and 3 days for any STI. Overall, 39 (69%) were treated within 7 days of their visit. Those with TV were more likely than those with CT/GC to receive treatment at their initial visit (58% vs. 6%). Genitourinary symptoms increased the odds of treatment in ≤7 days. The treatment interval was significantly shorter for subjects who had their prescriptions phoned to a pharmacy than for those who returned to clinic for treatment (median 2.5 vs. 8 days). Conclusions: Where presumptive treatment was uncommon, providers were more likely to prescribe same-day therapy to symptomatic patients or those with TV on wet mount. Additional strategies are needed to improve the proportion of adolescent females treated in ≤7 days.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis/therapy/prevention & control
KW - Female
KW - Health services Accessibility/standards
KW - Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
KW - Retrospective Studies
KW - Time factors
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpag.2007.05.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jpag.2007.05.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 17868893
AN - SCOPUS:34548491420
SN - 1083-3188
VL - 20
SP - 275
EP - 279
JO - Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
JF - Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
IS - 5
ER -