Barriers and Facilitators of Partner Treatment of Chlamydia: A Qualitative Investigation with Prescribers and Community Pharmacists

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequently-notified sexually transmitted infection in Australia. Effective and timely partner treatment of chlamydia is essential to reduce overall prevalence and the burden of infection. Currently in most of Australia, the only avenue for partner treatment of chlamydia (“standard partner therapy”) is a tedious, and often inconvenient, process. The barriers and facilitators of standard partner therapy, and newer models of accelerated partner therapy (APT), need to be identified in the Australian setting. Additionally, the potential role of community pharmacists need to be explored. Semi-structured interview guides for two key stakeholder groups (prescribers and pharmacists) were developed and piloted. Eleven prescribers (general practitioners, sexual health clinicians and nurse practitioners) and twelve pharmacists practicing in the Perth metropolitan region were interviewed. Key reported barriers to standard partner therapy were lack of or delayed chlamydia testing. Key facilitators included ability to test and educate sexual partner. Key barriers for APT included prescribers’ legal responsibility and potential for medication-related adverse effects. Healthcare provider consultation and chlamydia testing were seen as potential facilitators of APT. Pharmacists were receptive to the idea of expanding their role in chlamydia treatment, however, barriers to privacy must be overcome in order to be acceptable to prescribers and pharmacists.

Systematic review on the effects of the physical and social aspects of community pharmacy spaces on service users and staff

“… 37 Studies from England and New Zealand showed many pharmacy users were unaware of the presence of a private consultation area, 54 , 55 especially young people 103 and because sometimes pharmacists did not offer the consultation room to their patients. 58 , 62 , 71 , 79 Privacy problems were also reported when consulting about skin disease, 59 weight management 45 and influenza vaccinations. 69 …”

Qualitative Methods in Pharmacy Research

“…While the previous articles focused on a range of stakeholders, including patients and consumers, two other studies focused on health care practitioners. Wood et al [ 5 ] explored the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of Chlamydia partner treatment in Western Australia from the providers’ perspective. This qualitative study involved interviews with health care professionals involved in standard therapy (general practitioners, nurse practitioners, and sexual health clinicians) and community pharmacists.…”