The eTEST Project What is eTEST? eTEST is an intervention based in NSW general practice clinics which aims which aims to achieve best practice in HIV/STI testing among gay men.
What is Best Practice? 1. Sexually active gay men are tested for HIV/STIs annually 2. High-risk gay men (>10 partners in 6 months and/or recent unprotected sex) are tested for HIV/STIs at least twice per year 3. HIV positive gay men are tested for syphilis twice annually as part of HIV management checks 4. Gay men with chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea infections are re-tested three months after treatment
What are the benefits for a general practice?
PRACTICE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS: $10 payment for each patient that meets best practice recommendations. EDUCATION & TRAINING on sexual health, for practice nurses (PN) and clinicians, if required FREE RECALL SOFTWARE which will send free SMS appointments reminders for HIV/STI testing and other clinical purposes FREE AUDIT TOOLS (for Medical Director and Best practice users) to enable self-auditing of sexual health testing rates and other clinical questions PROMPTS to remind clinicians to undertake HIV/STI testing opportunistically RESOURCES: up-to-date HIV/STI health promotion materials SIMPLE PARTNER NOTIFICATION STRATEGIES: websites to enable anonymous partner notification by email/SMS QA&CPD points for educational activities
Which general practices can participate?
Practices that see at least 50 gay men per year.
What it involves to participate?
Participation in an introductory meeting and annual progress meetings (30-60min) – GPs time will be reimbursed Sign an agreement to participate in the study including for researchers to access de-identified patient data (including pathology) during the project period Give consent for the project coordinator to load the software on the clinic’s computer system Record the patient sexuality of all male patients aged 14+ years, and their risk group defined by number of sexual partners and condom use (as specific in the testing guidelines)
For more information, contact Denton Callander P: 9385 9958 E: etest@unsw.edu.au