Where would young people using an online STI testing service want to be treated? A survey of young Australians

Background

Although there has been growth in online STI testing services, more attention is needed to understand how to facilitate effective treatment pathways for users. This study investigated where young people want to be treated for gonorrhoea and syphilis if they test positive using an online service.

Methods

We conducted an online survey of Australians aged 16–29 years that included multiple choice and free-text questions about their preferred location for receiving injectable antibiotics. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression examined associations between respondent characteristics and service preferences. Content analysis was used to code free-text responses.

Results

Among 905 survey respondents, 777 (85.9%) answered questions on treatment preferences. Respondents most commonly preferred injectable antibiotics provided by a sexual health clinic (294; 37.8%) or a nurse in a pharmacy (208; 26.8%). Gender/sexually diverse respondents were more likely to select sexual health clinics over general practice (MSM RRR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.7; WSW RRR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1–5.7; trans/non-binary RRR 2.5; 95% CI 1.0–6.0). Older respondents (aged 25–29 years) were more likely to choose all alternatives over general practice, with the reverse found for those who had previously tested. From open-text answers, pharmacies were valued for their convenience, and sexual health clinics for providing non-judgemental, free services by specialists.

Conclusions

Differences in treatment preferences by certain groups of young people suggest that different service offerings may influence treatment-seeking outcomes from online STI testing services