Chlamydia Testing

[Sir_Dispensalot]

Yeah, we are coming to that conclusion!

Have you any thoughts on raising awareness, specifically on STIs? I ask this as you are mostly health professionals, and clearly come into contact with the public more than I do, specifically direct medical related contact. Obviously there are options available to get kits free, clinics, GPs etc, but free test kits in Pharmacies, what sort of uptake would you envisage (in your experience) would you expect if these kits were free in Pharmacies?
We're just looking at easy, stigma free approaches that would encourage younger people to gain access to, and complete, tests. I'd suggest abstaining, but that's an even harder sell...

having been part of a free kit from pharmacy scheme, i can say it was a complete flop. zero kits requested, none wanted when offered. a different approach is needed for example integration with other services (eg c-card schemes, connexions tie-ins etc)

[imaginegenerous]

We also give out free kits via an initative from the local PCT. In all honesty, it goes in fits and starts how many kits we give out as does youngsters being sent to us from the local sexual health clinic (we offer azithromycin under a PGD) For example, I don't think we'd had anybody the last two months then I've had four in for treatment in the last three days. I just find it's a case of putting a card in advertising the free test kits with all scripts for people in the appropriate age range (16-24), particularly those for contraception and any girls in for EHC.

[DavidS]

Perhaps the stocks could be brought back?

They would at least succeed in keeping some of our clients from falling over for sustained periods.

[DavidS]

Have you any thoughts on raising awareness, specifically on STIs?

encourage some semi-synthetic celebrities to catch it publicly. (On second thoughts, Amy Winehouse's mother is reputed to be a pharmacist).

[Sir_Dispensalot]

(On second thoughts, Amy Winehouse's mother is reputed to be a pharmacist).

No, it's just she feels like one when she opens her daughter's bathroom cabinet...

[happy_bunny]

Getting young people to 'just say no' to drink, drugs and sex doesn't work while they are still 'rewarded' by the state for these activities, ie free alcohol related hospital treatment, free methadone and needle exchange, free flats and benefits for girls having a baby without a husband. (or, if you have six children you can get a mansion and £100,000 a year in benefits)
This is a result of 40 years of 'do as you please shall be the way of the law'.
None of these problems exist to any extent in authoritarian states and societies where 'honour' insists that girls be murdered. alcohol abuse is treated by public whippings and use of drugs punishable by hanging.
Perhaps the stocks could be brought back? The 'Woman in White' and 'Tess' would not happen today.
johnep

Are you seriously suggesting it is right that 'dishonoured' women be murdered....?
If you are going to murder the women surely you also have to murder whoever fathered the illegitimate children as well... and would you murder the women before they actually gave birth? If not we would just create a huge orphan problem instead.
The whole thing sounds like it would be very difficult to set up in any kind of organised way and would require a massive army of some kind to go out and do the murdering... *in case its not obvious, I am not seriously suggesting this as an actual solution!*
Possibly it would be easier/cheaper/less gory to start girls on some sort of compulsory contraception from the time of their first period e.g the arm implant etc

[happy_bunny]

On a more relevant note, the pharmacy I used to manage gives out free chlamydia test kits and we go through quite a lot of them - Im not sure how many are actually used but the PCT also fund a free treatment service and I treated quite a few young people so the message must have been getting through.
I find that I can persuade most of my EHC clients to take a test but I am aware that the ones bothering to get emergency contraception are generally the more responsible ones anyway