Study protocol of the iMPaCT project: a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants, sexual behaviour and chlamydia (re)infections in heterosexual STI clinic visitors
Abstract Background Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the Netherlands, can lead to severe reproductive complications. Reasons for the sustained chlamydia prevalence in young individuals, even in countries with chlamydia screening pr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3498-6 |
| _version_ | 1818610047422300160 |
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| author | Daphne A. van Wees Janneke C. M. Heijne Titia Heijman Karlijn C. J. G. Kampman Karin Westra Anne de Vries Mirjam E. E. Kretzschmar Chantal den Daas |
| author_facet | Daphne A. van Wees Janneke C. M. Heijne Titia Heijman Karlijn C. J. G. Kampman Karin Westra Anne de Vries Mirjam E. E. Kretzschmar Chantal den Daas |
| author_sort | Daphne A. van Wees |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the Netherlands, can lead to severe reproductive complications. Reasons for the sustained chlamydia prevalence in young individuals, even in countries with chlamydia screening programs, might be the asymptomatic nature of chlamydia infections, and high reinfection rates after treatment. When individuals are unaware of their infection, preventive behaviour or health-care seeking behaviour mostly depends on psychological determinants, such as risk perception. Furthermore, behaviour change after a diagnosis might be vital to reduce reinfection rates. This makes the incorporation of psychological determinants and behaviour change in mathematical models estimating the impact of interventions on chlamydia transmission especially important. Therefore, quantitative real-life data to inform these models is needed. Methods A longitudinal cohort study will be conducted to explore the link between psychological and behavioural determinants and chlamydia (re)infection among heterosexual STI clinic visitors aged 18–24 years. Participants will be recruited at the STI clinics of the public health services of Amsterdam, Hollands Noorden, Kennemerland, and Twente. Participants are enrolled for a year, and questionnaires are administrated at four time points: baseline (before an STI consultation), three-week, six-month and at one-year follow-up. To be able to link psychological and behavioural determinants to (re)infections, participants will be tested for chlamydia at enrolment and at six-month follow-up. Data from the longitudinal cohort study will be used to develop mathematical models for curable STI incorporating these determinants to be able to better estimate the impact of interventions. Discussion This study will provide insights into the link between psychological and behavioural determinants, including short-term and long-term changes after diagnosis, and chlamydia (re)infections. Our mathematical model, informed by data from the longitudinal cohort study, will be able to estimate the impact of interventions on chlamydia prevalence, and identify and prioritise successful interventions for the future. These interventions could be implemented at STI clinics tailored to psychological and behavioural characteristics of individuals. Trial registration Dutch Trial Register NTR-6307. Retrospectively registered 11-nov-2016. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:08:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e1fbc135a0d04c619519dd0582535f16 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:08:13Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-e1fbc135a0d04c619519dd0582535f162022-12-21T22:27:04ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342018-11-0118111110.1186/s12879-018-3498-6Study protocol of the iMPaCT project: a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants, sexual behaviour and chlamydia (re)infections in heterosexual STI clinic visitorsDaphne A. van Wees0Janneke C. M. Heijne1Titia Heijman2Karlijn C. J. G. Kampman3Karin Westra4Anne de Vries5Mirjam E. E. Kretzschmar6Chantal den Daas7Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentPublic Health Service AmsterdamPublic Health Service TwentePublic Health Service Hollands NoordenPublic Health Service KennemerlandCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentAbstract Background Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the Netherlands, can lead to severe reproductive complications. Reasons for the sustained chlamydia prevalence in young individuals, even in countries with chlamydia screening programs, might be the asymptomatic nature of chlamydia infections, and high reinfection rates after treatment. When individuals are unaware of their infection, preventive behaviour or health-care seeking behaviour mostly depends on psychological determinants, such as risk perception. Furthermore, behaviour change after a diagnosis might be vital to reduce reinfection rates. This makes the incorporation of psychological determinants and behaviour change in mathematical models estimating the impact of interventions on chlamydia transmission especially important. Therefore, quantitative real-life data to inform these models is needed. Methods A longitudinal cohort study will be conducted to explore the link between psychological and behavioural determinants and chlamydia (re)infection among heterosexual STI clinic visitors aged 18–24 years. Participants will be recruited at the STI clinics of the public health services of Amsterdam, Hollands Noorden, Kennemerland, and Twente. Participants are enrolled for a year, and questionnaires are administrated at four time points: baseline (before an STI consultation), three-week, six-month and at one-year follow-up. To be able to link psychological and behavioural determinants to (re)infections, participants will be tested for chlamydia at enrolment and at six-month follow-up. Data from the longitudinal cohort study will be used to develop mathematical models for curable STI incorporating these determinants to be able to better estimate the impact of interventions. Discussion This study will provide insights into the link between psychological and behavioural determinants, including short-term and long-term changes after diagnosis, and chlamydia (re)infections. Our mathematical model, informed by data from the longitudinal cohort study, will be able to estimate the impact of interventions on chlamydia prevalence, and identify and prioritise successful interventions for the future. These interventions could be implemented at STI clinics tailored to psychological and behavioural characteristics of individuals. Trial registration Dutch Trial Register NTR-6307. Retrospectively registered 11-nov-2016.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3498-6Chlamydia trachomatisSexually transmitted diseasesReinfectionPsychological determinantsSexual behaviourBehaviour change |
| spellingShingle | Daphne A. van Wees Janneke C. M. Heijne Titia Heijman Karlijn C. J. G. Kampman Karin Westra Anne de Vries Mirjam E. E. Kretzschmar Chantal den Daas Study protocol of the iMPaCT project: a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants, sexual behaviour and chlamydia (re)infections in heterosexual STI clinic visitors BMC Infectious Diseases Chlamydia trachomatis Sexually transmitted diseases Reinfection Psychological determinants Sexual behaviour Behaviour change |
| title | Study protocol of the iMPaCT project: a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants, sexual behaviour and chlamydia (re)infections in heterosexual STI clinic visitors |
| title_full | Study protocol of the iMPaCT project: a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants, sexual behaviour and chlamydia (re)infections in heterosexual STI clinic visitors |
| title_fullStr | Study protocol of the iMPaCT project: a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants, sexual behaviour and chlamydia (re)infections in heterosexual STI clinic visitors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Study protocol of the iMPaCT project: a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants, sexual behaviour and chlamydia (re)infections in heterosexual STI clinic visitors |
| title_short | Study protocol of the iMPaCT project: a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants, sexual behaviour and chlamydia (re)infections in heterosexual STI clinic visitors |
| title_sort | study protocol of the impact project a longitudinal cohort study assessing psychological determinants sexual behaviour and chlamydia re infections in heterosexual sti clinic visitors |
| topic | Chlamydia trachomatis Sexually transmitted diseases Reinfection Psychological determinants Sexual behaviour Behaviour change |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3498-6 |
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