TY - JOUR
T1 - Opt-out referral of men who have sex with men newly diagnosed with HIV to partner notification officers
T2 - Results and yield of sexual partners being contacted
AU - Rane, Vinita
AU - Tomnay, Jane
AU - Fairley, Christopher
AU - Read, Tim
AU - Bradshaw, Catriona
AU - Carter, Tom
AU - Chen, Marcus
PY - 2016/6/1
Y1 - 2016/6/1
N2 - Background: Given its potential for reducing the proportion of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) unaware of their diagnosis, partner notification for HIV has been underutilized. This study aimed to determine if the implementation of opt-out referral of men who have sex with men, newly diagnosed with HIV, to partner notification officers (PNO) increased the proportion of sexual partners notified. Methods: In April 2013, all individuals newly diagnosed with HIV at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia were referred to Department of Health PNO to facilitate partner notification. The number of sexual partners reported by men and the proportion contacted in the 12 months before (opt-in period) and after (opt-out period) this policy change were determined through review of the clinical PNO records. Results: Overall, 111 men were diagnosed with HIV during the study period. Compared with men in the opt-in period (n = 51), men in the opt-out period (n = 60) were significantly more likely to accept assistance from the PNO (12 [24%] vs 51 [85%]; P <0.001). A significantly higher proportion of reported partners were notified with opt-out referral (85/185, 45.9%; 95% confidence interval, 38.6-53.4) compared with opt-in referral (31/252, 12.3%; 95% confidence interval, 8.5-17.0) (P <0.001). Discussion: Opt-out referral to PNO was associated with a substantially higher proportion of partners at risk of HIV being contacted.
AB - Background: Given its potential for reducing the proportion of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) unaware of their diagnosis, partner notification for HIV has been underutilized. This study aimed to determine if the implementation of opt-out referral of men who have sex with men, newly diagnosed with HIV, to partner notification officers (PNO) increased the proportion of sexual partners notified. Methods: In April 2013, all individuals newly diagnosed with HIV at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia were referred to Department of Health PNO to facilitate partner notification. The number of sexual partners reported by men and the proportion contacted in the 12 months before (opt-in period) and after (opt-out period) this policy change were determined through review of the clinical PNO records. Results: Overall, 111 men were diagnosed with HIV during the study period. Compared with men in the opt-in period (n = 51), men in the opt-out period (n = 60) were significantly more likely to accept assistance from the PNO (12 [24%] vs 51 [85%]; P <0.001). A significantly higher proportion of reported partners were notified with opt-out referral (85/185, 45.9%; 95% confidence interval, 38.6-53.4) compared with opt-in referral (31/252, 12.3%; 95% confidence interval, 8.5-17.0) (P <0.001). Discussion: Opt-out referral to PNO was associated with a substantially higher proportion of partners at risk of HIV being contacted.
KW - Australia
KW - Confidence interval
KW - Controlled study
KW - Diagnosis
KW - Human
KW - Human immunodeficiency virus
KW - Information processing
KW - Major clinical study
KW - Male
KW - Men who have sex with men
KW - Patient referral
KW - Sexual health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84965075859&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000449
DO - 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000449
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84992311282
SN - 0148-5717
VL - 43
SP - 341
EP - 345
JO - Sexually Transmitted Diseases
JF - Sexually Transmitted Diseases
IS - 6
ER -
