“Test n Treat” (TnT): a cluster randomised feasibility trial of on-site rapid Chlamydia trachomatis tests and treatment in ethnically diverse, sexually active teenagers attending technical colleges

TY - JOUR

T1 - “Test n Treat” (TnT)

T2 - a cluster randomised feasibility trial of on-site rapid Chlamydia trachomatis tests and treatment in ethnically diverse, sexually active teenagers attending technical colleges

AU - Oakeshott, Pippa

AU - Kerry-Barnard, Sarah

AU - Fleming, Charlotte

AU - Phillips, Rachel

AU - Drennan, Vari M.

AU - Adams, Elisabeth J.

AU - Majewska, Wendy

AU - Harding-Esch, Emma M.

AU - Cousins, Emma C.

AU - Planche, Tim

AU - Green, Alastair

AU - Bartholomew, Rosalie I.

AU - Tariq Sadiq, S.

AU - Reid, Fiona

PY - 2019/7/1

Y1 - 2019/7/1

N2 - Objectives We conducted a cluster-randomised feasibility trial of 90-minute Chlamydia trachomatis tests and same day on-site treatment (“Test n Treat/TnT”) in six technical colleges in London, England to assess: • TnT uptake rates • Follow-up rates • Prevalence of C.trachomatis at baseline and 7-months • Time to treatment • Acceptability of TnT Methods Participants completed questionnaires and provided genitourinary samples at baseline and seven months. Participants were informed that baseline samples would not be tested for 7- months and advised to get screened independently. Colleges were randomly allocated 1:1 to intervention (TnT) or control (no TnT). One and 4-months post-recruitment, participants at intervention colleges were texted invitations for on-site free C.trachomatis tests. A purposive sample of students who did/did not attend for screening were interviewed (n=26). Results 509 sexually active students were recruited: median age 17.9 years, 47% male, 50% black ethnicity, 55% reporting ≥2 sexual partners in the previous year. TnT uptake was 13% (33/259; 95% CI 8.9-17.4%) at one month and 10% (26/259;6.7-14.4%) at 4-months with overall C.trachomatis positivity 5.1% (3/59;1.1-14.2%). Follow-up at 7-months was 62% (317/509) for questionnaires and 52% (264/509) for samples. C.trachomatis prevalence was 6.3% (31/503) at baseline and 6.1% (16/264) at 7-months. Median time from test-to-treatment was 15-hours. Interviews suggested low test uptake was associated with not feeling at risk, perceptions of stigma and little knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Conclusions Despite high C.trachomatis rates at baseline and follow-up, uptake of testing was low. Like many countries, England urgently needs better sex education, including making STI testing routine/normal. Trial registration ISRCTN58038795

AB - Objectives We conducted a cluster-randomised feasibility trial of 90-minute Chlamydia trachomatis tests and same day on-site treatment (“Test n Treat/TnT”) in six technical colleges in London, England to assess: • TnT uptake rates • Follow-up rates • Prevalence of C.trachomatis at baseline and 7-months • Time to treatment • Acceptability of TnT Methods Participants completed questionnaires and provided genitourinary samples at baseline and seven months. Participants were informed that baseline samples would not be tested for 7- months and advised to get screened independently. Colleges were randomly allocated 1:1 to intervention (TnT) or control (no TnT). One and 4-months post-recruitment, participants at intervention colleges were texted invitations for on-site free C.trachomatis tests. A purposive sample of students who did/did not attend for screening were interviewed (n=26). Results 509 sexually active students were recruited: median age 17.9 years, 47% male, 50% black ethnicity, 55% reporting ≥2 sexual partners in the previous year. TnT uptake was 13% (33/259; 95% CI 8.9-17.4%) at one month and 10% (26/259;6.7-14.4%) at 4-months with overall C.trachomatis positivity 5.1% (3/59;1.1-14.2%). Follow-up at 7-months was 62% (317/509) for questionnaires and 52% (264/509) for samples. C.trachomatis prevalence was 6.3% (31/503) at baseline and 6.1% (16/264) at 7-months. Median time from test-to-treatment was 15-hours. Interviews suggested low test uptake was associated with not feeling at risk, perceptions of stigma and little knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Conclusions Despite high C.trachomatis rates at baseline and follow-up, uptake of testing was low. Like many countries, England urgently needs better sex education, including making STI testing routine/normal. Trial registration ISRCTN58038795

KW - Rapid tests

KW - Screening

KW - Young people

KW - Technical colleges

KW - Test and treat

KW - Cluster randomised

KW - Feasibility trial

U2 - 10.1016/j.cmi.2018.10.019

DO - 10.1016/j.cmi.2018.10.019

M3 - Article

SN - 1198-743X

VL - 25

SP - 865

EP - 871

JO - CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION

JF - CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION

IS - 7

ER -