Improving response rates for self collected urine samples

Chlamydia trachomatis is the commonest bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Victoria, Australia, with the number of notifications increasing threefold in the past 8 years from 1287 in 1994 to 3977 in 2001.1 As infection with chlamydia is frequently asymptomatic, notification data underestimate population prevalence. Innovative study designs are necessary to investigate chlamydia prevalence and risk factors. We conducted a pilot study among women aged 18–32, to estimate the rate of response to a request to provide a mailed self collected urine specimen for chlamydia testing. Recruitment via mail was compared with recruitment via mail and follow up telephone contact. Between March and May 2002, the names and addresses of 150 Victorian women aged 18–32 were randomly selected from the electoral roll. …

[1]  D. Neau,et al.  Causes of death among HIV‐infected patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, Bordeaux, France, 1998–1999 , 2002, HIV medicine.

[2]  C. Boshoff,et al.  Aids-related malignancies , 2002, Nature Reviews Cancer.

[3]  A. McNab,et al.  The national strategy for sexual health and HIV: implications for genitourinary medicine , 2002, Sexually transmitted infections.

[4]  J. Butel,et al.  AIDS-related systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at a large community program. , 2002, AIDS research and human retroviruses.

[5]  R. Nandwani,et al.  The Sandyford Initiative: creating added value to health and health care. , 2001, Health bulletin.

[6]  C. Wilkinson,et al.  The integration of family planning and genitourinary medicine services , 2000, The British journal of family planning.

[7]  L. Bouter,et al.  Low diagnostic accuracy of selective screening criteria for asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the general population , 2000, Sexually transmitted infections.

[8]  H. Jaffe,et al.  Incidence and trends in Kaposi's sarcoma in the era of effective antiretroviral therapy. , 2000 .

[9]  G. Ridgway,et al.  Home screening for chlamydial genital infection: is it acceptable to young men and women? , 2000, Sexually transmitted infections.

[10]  A. Telenti,et al.  Risk of HIV related Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with potent antiretroviral therapy: prospective cohort study , 1999, BMJ.

[11]  F. Lo Coco,et al.  Primary effusion lymphoma containing human herpesvirus 8 DNA in two AIDS patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. , 1998, Haematologica.

[12]  M. Elstein,et al.  Rethinking sexual health clinics , 1995, BMJ.