Title
Clinical effectiveness and analytical quality of a national point-of-care testing network for sexually transmitted infections integrated into rural and remote primary care clinics in Australia, 2016-2022: an observational program evaluation.
Link to article in PubMed
Author(s)
Causer, Louise M
Ward, James
Smith, Kirsty
Saha, Amit
Andrewartha, Kelly
Wand, Handan
Hengel, Belinda
Badman, Steven G
Tangey, Annie
Matthews, Susan
Mak, Donna
Moore, Elizabeth
Speers, David
Persing, David
Anderson, David
Whiley, David
Maher, Lisa
Regan, David
Donovan, Basil
Fairley, Christopher
Kaldor, John
Shephard, Mark
Guy, Rebecca
Abstract
To address inequitable diagnostic access and improve time-to-treatment for First Nations peoples, molecular point-of-care (POC) testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas was integrated into 49 primary care clinics across Australia. We conducted an observational evaluation to determine clinical effectiveness and analytical quality of POC testing delivered through this national program.We evaluated (i) implementation by measuring trends in mean monthly POC testing; ii) clinical effectiveness by comparing proportions of positive patients treated by historical control/intervention period and by test type, and calculated infectious days averted; (iii) analytical quality by calculating result concordance by test type, and proportion of unsuccessful POC tests.Between 2016 and 2022, 46,153 POC tests were performed; an increasing mean monthly testing trend was observed in the first four years (p < 0.0001). A greater proportion of chlamydia/gonorrhoea positives were treated in intervention compared with historical control periods (≤2 days: 37% vs 22% [RR 1.68; 95% CI 1.12, 2.53]; ≤7 days: 48% vs 30% [RR 1.6; 95% CI 1.10, 2.33]; ≤120 days: 79% vs 54% [RR 1.46; 95% CI 1.10, 1.95]); similarly for trichomonas positives and by test type. POC testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas averted 4930, 5620 and 7075 infectious days, respectively. Results concordance was high [99.0% (chlamydia), 99.3% (gonorrhoea) and 98.9% (trichomonas)]; unsuccessful POC test proportion was 1.8% for chlamydia/gonorrhoea and 2.1% for trichomonas.Molecular POC testing was successfully integrated into primary care settings as part of a routinely implemented program achieving significant clinical benefits with high analytical quality. In addition to the individual health benefits of earlier treatment, fewer infective days could contribute to reduced transmissions in First Nations communities.This work was supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Grant (APP1092503), the Australian Government Department of Health, Western Australia and Queensland Departments of Health.
Publication information
Lancet Reg Health West Pac . 2024 Jun 10:48:101110. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101110. eCollection 2024 Jul.
Date Issued
2024-06-10
Type
Journal Article
Journal Title
The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific
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