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
{"title":"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","authors":"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","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70092","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Objective</h3>\n \n <p>This study investigated local public health authorities' perspectives on implementing a new online STI testing service for young people in regional/rural Victoria, Australia.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Setting</h3>\n \n <p>Study was conducted to support the design of <i>Test it</i>, 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).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Participants</h3>\n \n <p>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.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Design</h3>\n \n <p>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.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>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.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusion</h3>\n \n <p>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.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"33 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ajr.70092","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Implementing an Online Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Service for Young People in Regional and Rural Victoria, Australia: Insights From Local Public Health Authorities\",\"authors\":\"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\",\"doi\":\"10.1111/ajr.70092\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div>\\n \\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Objective</h3>\\n \\n <p>This study investigated local public health authorities' perspectives on implementing a new online STI testing service for young people in regional/rural Victoria, Australia.</p>\\n </section>\\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Setting</h3>\\n \\n <p>Study was conducted to support the design of <i>Test it</i>, 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).</p>\\n </section>\\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Participants</h3>\\n \\n <p>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.</p>\\n </section>\\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Design</h3>\\n \\n <p>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.</p>\\n </section>\\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Results</h3>\\n \\n <p>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.</p>\\n </section>\\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Conclusion</h3>\\n \\n <p>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.</p>\\n </section>\\n </div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":55421,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Australian Journal of Rural Health\",\"volume\":\"33 5\",\"pages\":\"\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":2.1000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-09-22\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ajr.70092\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Australian Journal of Rural Health\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"3\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajr.70092\",\"RegionNum\":4,\"RegionCategory\":\"医学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q2\",\"JCRName\":\"NURSING\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajr.70092","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
Implementing an Online Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Service for Young People in Regional and Rural Victoria, Australia: Insights From Local Public Health Authorities
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.
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.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
