Is Accelerated Partner Therapy partner notification for sexually transmissible infections acceptable and feasible in general practice?
Abstract
Background: Partner notification in primary care is problematic and of limited effectiveness despite enthusiasm from primary care providers to engage with sexually transmissible infection (STI) management. Innovative partner notification strategies must be relevant to the primary care context. The aim of the present study was to explore the opinions of general practitioners (GP) and practice nurses on the acceptability and feasibility of a new form of partner notification developed in the specialist setting known as Accelerated Partner Therapy (APT), for sex partners of those diagnosed with a bacterial STI in general practice. APT is defined as partner notification strategies that reduce time for sex partners to be treated, and include partner assessment by appropriately qualified health care professionals and here involve telephone and community pharmacy assessment. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of GP and practice nurses in East London, UK. Results: All participants appreciated the importance of partner notification in STI management and felt that APT would improve their practice. They supported prioritising antibiotic provision for the sex partners with provision for future comprehensive STI screening. Although both models were acceptable and feasible, the majority preferred the sexual health clinic telephone assessment over the pharmacy model. Conclusions: GP and practice nurses welcome new strategies for partner notification and believe APT could provide rapid and convenient treatment of sex partners in general practice. This supports further evaluation of APT models as a partner notification strategy in primary care.
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Health workers indicated that to deliver services effectively they would need support, including training, data management tools, funding, more staff time, and supportive policies.
“Health workers also indicated that to deliver services effectively they would need support, including training, data management tools, funding, more staff time allocated to complete certain tasks, and supportive policies (124, 127, 132-139).”
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Chitneni, P. R., Owembabazi, M., Kanini, E., Kansiime, R., Muyindike, W. R., Psaros, C., Haberer, J. E., & Matthews, L. T. (2025) · Frontiers in Reproductive Health · doi:10.3389/frph.2025.1564836
- Authors
- Shackleton, T., Sutcliffe, L., & Estcourt, C.
- Affiliations
- Blizard Institute (GB)
- ABlizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts, London ECIA 7BE, UK.
- Venue
- Sexual Health
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Published
- 2011-01-24
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 17-22
- ISSN
- 1448-5028 (ISSN-L)
- 1449-8987
- OpenAlex
- W2165311210
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sexual Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Keywords
- partner notification, sexually transmitted infections, bacterial STIs, general practitioners, practice nurses, acceptability, feasibility, antibiotic prescribing, community pharmacy, telephone assessment, sexual health clinics, primary care
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Ambulatory Care, Anecdotes as Topic, Female, Humans, London, Male, Middle Aged, Nurse Practitioners, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Professional-Patient Relations, Surveys and Questionnaires, Referral and Consultation, Sexual Partners, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Contact Tracing, General Practice
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