Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Chlamydia prevalence in the Netherlands remains high despite targeted efforts. This study explores the current practice of PN and PT, and benefits of, and barriers and facilitators for PIPT among professionals in sexual health care in the Netherlands.
The qualitative study showed that all professionals support the need for more attention to PN, and that they saw advantages in PIPT. Mentioned barriers included unwilling PN-behaviour, Dutch legislation, several medical considerations and inadequate skills of GPs. Also, concerns about limited knowledge of cultural sensitivity around PN and PT were raised.
Mentioned facilitators of PIPT were reliable home based test-kits, phone-contact between professionals and notified partners, more consultation time for GPs or GPAs and additional training. The online questionnaire showed that SHC employees agreed that partners should be treated as soon as possible, but also that they were reluctant towards PIPT without counselling and testing. Improving PN and counselling skills with specific focus on cultural sensitivity is needed.
PIPT could be considered for specific partners. PIPT in combination with home based testing and using e-healthcare should be further explored and developed. Chlamydia re-infections are common and increase risk of complications and adverse reproductive outcomes [ 1 , 2 ]. About one third of chlamydia re-infections in heterosexuals are caused by untreated partners [ 2 — 4 ], stressing the importance of Partner Notification PN and Partner Therapy PT , in STI control [ 5 , 6 ].
Expedited Partner Therapy EPT allows health care providers to provide STI-patients with a prescription or antibiotics for their sex partner s without an intervening medical evaluation of the partner s [ 7 ]. This can be done by handing out medication to the partner by the index-case, Patient Delivered Partner Therapy PDPT [ 8 , 9 ], or by providing an accelerated prescription for the partner with medical history gained through a telephone-hotline or at a pharmacy Accelerated Partner Therapy APT [ 10 , 11 ].
