Barriers to expedited partner therapy exist for providers treating STIs

Expedited partner therapy as a treatment for infected sexual partners is blocked from use for a variety of reasons, new research suggests.

Researchers surveyed pediatric medical providers (MD/DO, PA, NP and RN) at the 2011 Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatric Conference to assess use and implementation of expedited partner therapy in treating STIs.

As of 2010, expedited partner therapy is permissible in Illinois but not all 50 states.

Researchers found that physicians were less likely to use expedited partner therapy to treat more than 50% of positive cases compared with other practitioners (PA, NP or RN; 7% vs. 60%, P=.03). STI screening, diagnosis and treatment was provided by 78% of those surveyed.

Researchers also found that expedited partner therapy was only used by 38% of participants, and only 4% use it to treat more than 75% of positive cases.

More than half (58%) of participants showed interest in expedited partner therapy training, and only 10% had previously participated in training.

Researchers found a number of barriers preventing providers from using expedited partner therapy to treat STDs, including: provider discomfort in treating a patient who had not been questioned or examined (80%); providing treatment for one STD without further screening (43%); inability to provide partner prescription by electronic medical record (43%); insurance explanations of benefits confidentiality (34%); providers’ time (32%); and other confidentiality concerns (25%).

“Our study found the most common barrier to expedited therapy use, despite protection under Illinois law, is treatment of a partner that has not been questioned [or] examined by the provider,” the researchers wrote. “There are also concerns regarding partner sexually transmitted infection screening, confidentiality, funding and documentation.”

For more information:

Reggi J. Abstract #21. Presented at: Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 2013; March 13-16, 2013; Atlanta.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.