Chlamydia Testing

[Jason]

Hi Chaps/Chappeses,

I am not actually a Pharmacist, but I am doing some work with an organisation involved in the promotion of Chlamydia testing awareness. I apologise if that at this point some of you have tuned out, those who are still with me, thank you!
I was wondering if anyone had specific views on the way in-Pharmacy chlamydia tests have been taken up? Really, I am trying to assess the most effective way for young people (specifically 16-25 year olds) to gain access to the testing kits, and whether Pharmacies were the best route to market, so to speak. Any feedback would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you very much.

[DavidS]

If you can give them away, schools/colleges are the obvious place.

If you can't and they need to be sold, then pharmacies are really your only option. I suspect that most teenagers would probably risk their genitals falling off rather than buy a kit for a symptomless disease, however, so if the NHS isn't paying I would do a few pilot studies first.

[Jason]

Cheers David, much appreciated.

[johnep]

We gave out cards with every exchange pack of needles and also to EHC pts.
As has been said, if it costs money that could be spent on CDs, fags, or booze they will not be interested. No one has sold a single pack of the antibiotic in any pharmacy I know.
johnep

[bobbin]

I suspect that most teenagers would probably risk their genitals falling off..........

Now that our local surgeries seem to be prescribing large quantities of doxycycline to almost every teenager in the area, presumably for acne, the risk of contracting chlamydia around here ought to be pretty low!!

[johnep]

Whole exercise about as successful as Zocor.
johnep

[Jason]

Sorry John, Zocor? Forgive my ignorance.

Thanks for your comments. Am I right to conclude that the whole initiative is unsuccessful as young people aren't prepared to pay for tests, and given the nature of the condition it isn't that much of a worry for them anyway?

Once again, cheers for your feedback.

[johnep]

Zocor (simvastatin) was transferred to GSL from POM some years ago. I was at BTC MK at the time. BTC decided to offer free cholesterol tests and used Johnny Wilkinsom to promote. So naturally hordes of healthy 24-25 year olds swamped us with requests for free cholesterol tests. After a week or two of chaos BTC then said not required under 45 yrs old. Result was we sold two packs of Zocor and have not sold one since. Pts mainly over 60 and get scripts free, why pay £9.99?
No health initiative will succeed in UK if it requires the public to pay.
johnep

[Jason]

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...

[johnep]

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