Delivery of Internet Partner Services (IPS) to Improve Disease Intervention Outcomes Among Anonymous Sex Partners

Background:The epidemiology of syphilis outbreaks nationally identified the Internet as an emerging venue for meeting sexual partners. In response, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) developed Internet Partner Services (IPS) Guidelines to establish protocols that adapted traditional disease intervention strategies for STD/HIV to this novel and complex environment.

Objectives:To evaluate outcomes associated with conducting IPS for STD/HIV in NYS (excluding New York City).

Methods:Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) conducted IPS for partners and clusters to STD and HIV for whom the only identifying information was a screen name or e-mail address. DIS used log sheets to collect data on number of assignments, exposure disease, frequency and date of notification, notification method, and disposition. In addition to traditional disposition codes, the L-disposition code was adapted for local use in tracking Internet-only dispositions.

Results:From January – June 2009, 84 IPS investigations were performed of which 13 (15%) had traditional dispositions including two preventively-treated and two infected, brought to treatment and 71 (85%) were L dispositions. Of L-dispositions, 24 (33%) partners responded to IPS with 10 claiming to be non-infected, 7 claiming preventive or previous treatment, and 7 acknowledging their exposure; 16 (23%) opened the e-mail but did not directly respond to IPS; and 31 (44%) were not informed because they blocked or refused DIS e-mail (N=10), did not log in (N=10 ), screen name was invalid (N=4) or it was unknown if e-mail was read (N=7).

Conclusions:NYS’ IPS experience demonstrates that disease intervention strategies for STD/HIV can be adapted to innovative technologies thereby enhancing the yield of partner notification. IPS directly notified 37 (44%) partners and informed 16 (19%) others; these individuals might not have been located by traditional PS.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and/or Research: Public health practitioners and researchers will understand IPS methodology and associated outcomes for improving intervention activities.