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4A 1 Implementation and Continuing Evaluation of a New I Want the Kit (IWTK) Internet Outreach Screening Program for STIs

Wednesday, June 11, 2014: 3:00 PM
Grand Ballroom A/B/C/D1
Charlotte Gaydos, MS, MPH, DrPH1, Laura Dize, BS1, Mary Jett-Goheen, BS MT(ASCP)1, Mathilda Barnes, MS, CCRP1, Jeffrey Holden, BS, MA2 and Yu-Hsiang Hsieh, PhD3, 1Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 2School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 3School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

     

Background: IWTK (www.iwantthekit.org) has been in operation in Maryland and DC for recruiting participants to self-collect urogenital samples at home and mail them to a testing laboratory since 2004. Other states have participated periodically. Testing has been performed for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas for >5,000 women and >2500 men. IWTK also has an STI educational component and a quiz for self-risk assessment of having an STI.  A new website was implemented August 21, 2013, which allows users to obtain their own results using a secure username and password.

Methods: New components of the HIPPA compliant, privacy- protected website allow participants to create a secure account to request kits. Vaginal, penile, and/or rectal kits can be requested.  Participants select a potential treatment clinic before requesting kits. The site allows participant-monitoring, when kits are sent and kits are received.  When results are ready, users are notified by text or email automatically by the website.  If infected with any STI at any site, participants are requested (“next steps”) to attend their chosen clinic for treatment. Monitoring for treatment is performed to assess patient acceptability to seek their own treatment.

Results: Very early 3-month, preliminary results indicated 376 females and 245 males have requested urogenital kits; 178 requested rectal kits (female, 104; male 74). 188 vaginal, 137 penile, and 82 rectal kits (44 females, 38 males- 3 returned rectal-only) have been returned from MD and DC.  Of 24 infected females, positives included:  9 (4.8%) chlamydia, 2 (1.1%) gonorrhea, 14 (7.4%) trichomonas (1-coinfected).  Of 14 infected males, positives included: 11 (7.8%) chlamydia, 1 gonorrhea (rectal), (0.71%), 3 trichomonas (2.1%), (1-coinfected). Of notified infected patients 31/32 (96.8%) were treated, thus far. Statistics demonstrated >4,000 website-visits/month; average 134-137/day.

Conclusions: Early evaluation indicates the new IWTK website is functioning well and newly automated components are performing as expected.

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