Implementing an Online Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Service for Young People in Regional and Rural Victoria, Australia: Insights From Local Public Health Authorities

IF 2.1 4区医学 Q2 NURSING

Australian Journal of Rural Health Pub Date : 2025-09-22 DOI:10.1111/ajr.70092

Lauren Ware, Mitchell McGrath, Oliva Walsh, Ethan T. Cardwell, Jane Tomnay, Dave Evans, Anne-Marie Kelly, Jason J. Ong, Jane S. Hocking, Fabian Y. S. Kong, Teralynn Ludwick

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

This study investigated local public health authorities' perspectives on implementing a new online STI testing service for young people in regional/rural Victoria, Australia.

Setting

Study was conducted to support the design of Test it, a free, online STI testing service being developed for Victoria. After completing an online registration and sexual health questionnaire, users receive an electronic test request form to take directly to a pathology centre without seeing a general practitioner (GP).

Participants

Ten individuals responsible for the coordination of community sexual health services within 7 Victorian Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) and the Department of Health, and a state-wide health promotion organisation.

Design

Semi-structured interview topics covered: attitudes towards online STI testing, advantages and challenges of online STI testing for regional and rural communities, and strategies to support effective implementation.

Results

Participants were enthusiastic about the potential of an online STI testing service, perceiving it to offer options in settings with limited sexual health providers, provide users with greater anonymity (bypassing GPs), improve efficiency, and support LPHUs to deliver their priorities. However, needing to attend a pathology service in-person may reduce appeal and create barriers given limited transport/opening hours and stigmatisation concerns by young people. Navigating treatment, if needed, may also be challenging.

Conclusion

Despite offering advantages, regional/rural young people are likely to encounter barriers to online STI testing that are different from and more significant than those faced by young people in urban areas. Strategies are needed to support implementation in regional/rural areas to realise the full potential of online testing to improve equitable access for underserved communities.

查看原文本刊更多论文

在澳大利亚维多利亚州地区和农村为年轻人实施在线性传播感染检测服务：来自当地公共卫生当局的见解

目的本研究调查了当地公共卫生当局对澳大利亚维多利亚州地区/农村年轻人实施新的在线性传播感染检测服务的看法。设置研究是为了支持Test it的设计，这是一项为维多利亚州开发的免费在线STI测试服务。在完成在线注册和性健康调查问卷后，用户会收到一份电子测试申请表，直接带到病理中心，而无需见全科医生（GP）。参加者10人，负责协调维多利亚州7个地方公共卫生单位（LPHUs）和卫生部以及一个全州范围的健康促进组织的社区性健康服务。设计半结构化访谈的主题包括：对在线STI测试的态度，在线STI测试对区域和农村社区的优势和挑战，以及支持有效实施的战略。结果参与者对在线性传播感染检测服务的潜力充满热情，认为它可以在性健康提供者有限的情况下提供选择，为用户提供更大的匿名性（绕过全科医生），提高效率，并支持lphu提供优先事项。然而，由于交通/开放时间有限以及年轻人对耻辱的担忧，需要亲自参加病理服务可能会降低吸引力并造成障碍。导航治疗，如果需要的话，也可能具有挑战性。尽管具有优势，但区域/农村年轻人在进行在线性传播感染检测时可能遇到的障碍与城市地区年轻人面临的障碍不同，而且比城市地区年轻人面临的障碍更严重。需要制定战略，支持在区域/农村地区实施，以充分发挥在线检测的潜力，改善服务不足社区的公平获取机会。

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来源期刊

Australian Journal of Rural Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

2.30

自引率

16.70%

发文量

122

审稿时长

12 months

期刊介绍： The Australian Journal of Rural Health publishes articles in the field of rural health. It facilitates the formation of interdisciplinary networks, so that rural health professionals can form a cohesive group and work together for the advancement of rural practice, in all health disciplines. The Journal aims to establish a national and international reputation for the quality of its scholarly discourse and its value to rural health professionals. All articles, unless otherwise identified, are peer reviewed by at least two researchers expert in the field of the submitted paper.