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TESTATE STI project: an online chlamydia and gonorrhoea self-sampling strategy for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and trans people in Catalonia (Spain)
  1. Héctor Martínez-Riveros1,2,3,
  2. Victoria Gonzalez Soler2,4,5,
  3. Yesika Díaz2,4,
  4. Marcos Montoro-Fernandez2,
  5. Gema Fernandez-Rivas5,
  6. Carles Pericas6,
  7. David Palma4,6,
  8. Marta Villar7,
  9. Héctor Adell7,
  10. Héctor Gonzalez Quiles8,
  11. Javier Sotomayor Cortés9,
  12. Silvia Gomez2,
  13. Aida Ramirez Marinero5,
  14. Pol Romano-de Gea2,3,
  15. Esteve Muntada2,
  16. Jordi Casabona2,3,4,10,
  17. Cristina Agusti2,3,4
  1. 1Doctorate Programme in Methodology of Biomedical Research and Public Health, Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Preventive Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
  2. 2Centre of Epidemiological Studies of HIV/AIDS and STI of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Health Department, Generalitat de Catalunya, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
  3. 3Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Catalunya, Spain
  4. 4Biomedical Research Center Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
  5. 5Microbiology Department, Clinical Laboratory North Metropolitan Area, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital. Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Univ Autonoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Catalunya, Spain
  6. 6Epidemiology service, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
  7. 7ONG Stop, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
  8. 8Fundació Antisida de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
  9. 9Colors Sitges Link, Barcelona, Spain
  10. 10Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Preventive Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Catalunya, Spain
  1. Correspondence to Héctor Martínez-Riveros; hmr.badalona{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Objectives TESTATE STI is an online offer of self-sampling kits (SSKs) for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender people (TG) in Catalonia. The aims of this study are: 1) to develop and evaluate the effectiveness, satisfaction and willingness of a pilot online intervention that includes the offer of SSKs for CT/NG screening with online consultation of subsequent results and (2) to analyse its potential as an effective strategy to encourage diagnosis, linkage to treatment and to describe contact notification by participants with a positive diagnosis.

Methods The distribution of SSKs, which included a urine collection tube, a pharyngeal and a rectal swab, was conducted through two recruitment strategies: autonomously via social media and GBMSM or TG leisure spaces, or accompanied by community-based organisations. Participants completed a socio-demographic, biobehavioural and satisfaction survey.

Results A total of 386 kits were tested in the laboratory. The estimated positivity rate for having at least one STI was 20.7%. TESTATE STI indicates that approximately 90.0% of positive participants were extragenital. 81.0% of positive cases were linked to the health system, and 96.9% of those were treated. We estimate that five kits must be performed to detect a positive CT/NG with the TESTATE STI intervention. Almost all participants (98.8%) would recommend taking the chlamydia and gonorrhoea self-sampling with TESTATE STI.

Conclusion The TESTATE STI project concluded that the deployment of SSKs for the detection of CT/NG is a viable and feasible strategy for GBMSM and TG in Catalonia. TESTATE STI is an effective strategy for encouraging diagnosis, treatment linkage and contact notification. Implementing TESTATE STI would increase access to confidential testing and promote early STI detection.

  • transgender
  • gonorrhea
  • chlamydia infections
  • homosexuality, male
  • telemedicine

https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2024-056394

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    Footnotes

    • Handling editor Irith De Baetselier

    • X @hectorgranota

    • Contributors All the signatories participated in the preparation of the article. HM-R wrote the first version and the final edition, which was reviewed by CA and JC. MM-F and YD did the statistical analysis. VGS, GF-R and ARM have been in charge of the laboratory analysis. CP, DP, HA, MV, HGQ and JSC have collaborated with the recruitment of participants in the community entities. SG helped with the field work. All signatories have read, reviewed and approved the final version before submission for publication.

    • Funding Health Department of the Government of Catalonia

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.