Sexually Transmitted Diseases  >  Program Guidelines  >  Partner Services

Program Operations Guidelines for STD Prevention
Partner Services

Previous Page

Table of Contents

Next Page

Appendix PS-J

GLOSSARY OF TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTNER SERVICES

Associate—Individuals initiated for field follow-up from cluster interviews. Associates are named by persons not infected with the disease in question. Associates can fall into one of three categories: A-1 People with symptoms of the disease. A-2 Unnamed partners of an infected patient. A-3 Others who might benefit from an examination. See Cluster Interview, Social Network Analysis.

Case Closure—A case is closed when the responsible DIS and the next-level supervisor agree that all reasonable steps to intervene in the disease process have been completed and documented.

Case Management—The systematic pursuit, documentation, and analysis of medical and epidemiologic case information that focuses on opportunities to develop and implement timely disease intervention plans.

Client—An individual who seeks HIV prevention counseling and testing services.

Client-Centered Counseling—Counseling conducted in an interactive manner, responsive to the individual patient's needs and requiring an understanding of the unique circumstances of the patient including behaviors, culture, knowledge, and social and economic status.

Cluster Interview—An interview of an uninfected person conducted to gather information about previously unnamed or uninitiated partners of known cases and about individuals who may be in need of an STD examination.The cluster interview is conducted with partners, suspects, or associates of known cases.

Confidentiality—The concept that information will be released only to persons who need the information to help with the patient's medical care and to protect the public health.

Contract Referral—Notification strategy in which the provider elicits locating information, negotiates a time frame for the infected patient to notify his or her partners of the possibility of their exposure, and refer them to appropriate services. If the patient is unable to do so within an agreed-upon time period, the provider has permission to notify and refer the partner(s).

Disease Intervention—The process of stopping the spread of a disease and the complications of disease.

Field Investigation-The process of informing infected persons and their partners of their status by going into the community to find them and to motivate them to accept medical attention and risk reduction counseling.

Incubation Period—The incubation period begins with the date of infection and ends with the appearance of signs or symptoms.

Index Patient—A patient newly diagnosed with a STD and who is a candidate for interview by trained DIS. The term index patient is often interchanged with original patient. Typically, the index patient is the first infected person identified in a lot involving multiple infections.

Interview Period—The interview period covers the time from the earliest date a patient could have been infected to the date of treatment; it always includes the maximum incubation period and the duration of symptoms. Thus, it includes the time during which a patient could become infected or spread the disease to others.

Lot System—A system of organizing cases so that related cases are filed in the same "lot" or folder. The goal is to assure that all obtainable information regarding the continuing management of related cases contained in a lot is readily available to all responsible workers.

MAP Sheet—The major analytical points (MAP) sheet is used for gathering information about members of a lot as well as for analysis and communication.

Original Interview—The first interview conducted with an infected patient. The objective of the interview is to prevent further spread of disease through the prompt identification and examination of all elicited partners and suspects. The interview is designed to ensure that the patient understands the seriousness of the disease, and motivates them to cooperate with STD/HIV control efforts. It is also designed to increase the likelihood that all at- isk partners and suspects are disclosed so they can be brought in for examination and treatment and to provide client-centered counseling to develop a personalized risk reduction plan.

Original Patient (OP)—See index patient.

Partner—A person who engages in any type of sexual activity or needle-sharing activity with the infected person.

Partner Elicitation—The process of obtaining names, descriptions, and locating information of persons who are either partners, suspects, or associates to the original patient.

Partner Notification—The process of locating and notifying partners that they have been exposed to a disease.

Partner Services—The wide range of services provided to partners of infected patients. Partner notification is but one aspect of these services. Other services include counseling, testing, and treatment, as well as referrals to appropriate services such as family planning, prenatal, drug treatment, social support, housing, etc.

Patient—An individual who is treated for a STD.

Patient (Self) Referral—A notification strategy whereby the infected patient accepts full responsibility for informing partners of the possibility of exposure to an STD and for referring them to appropriate services. With patient referral, the provider coaches the infected patient on when, where, and how to notify and what to expect with reactions.

Post-Interview Analysis—An analysis of the information obtained during the interview. The post- interview analysis should be done immediately after the interview when the information is still fresh on the mind of the DIS.

Pre-Interview Analysis—An analysis of the patient's situation done by the DIS before the original interview. The pre-interview analysis includes reviewing available medical information and case information, reviewing available socio-sexual information, and assembling necessary materials and supplies needed during the interview.

Presumptive Interview—An interview conducted on the basis of a patient presenting with symptoms or laboratory findings that are suspicious or not yet available. The purpose of this type of interview is to afford the staff additional time and information by assuring the rapid examination and medical evaluation of recent sex partners.

Provider Referral—A notification strategy where the provider takes responsibility for confidentially notifying partners of the possibilities of their exposure to a STD.

Re-Interview—Any interview following the original interview with a STD patient. Reinterviews are conducted to provide feedback, to gather additional information that may help prove or disprove a hypothesis about case relationships, to address points not covered during the original interview, to identify additional partners or suspects to the original patient, to confront points that are illogical or that are disputed by other information, to solicit assistance in locating previously named persons who have not been located or are being uncooperative, to support patient risk-reduction attempts, and to support and reinforce a patient's successful use of referred services.

Social Network Analysis—The study of how people connect in social structures and of its implications. See Cluster Interview.

Source Period—The interval during which a patient most likely contracted the disease.

Spread Period—The time during which a patient is potentially infectious and could have passed the disease on to others.

Suspect—Individuals identified as the result of an interview with an infected person but who are not partners of that person. Suspects are divided into three categories: S-1 People with symptoms of disease. S-2 An unnamed partner of an infected patient. S-3 Others who might benefit from a STD examination. See Cluster Interview, Social Network Analysis.

Targeted Screening—An activity to identify infected people in a select group who are engaged in behaviors that put them at greater risk for infection.

Volunteer—A person who comes into the clinic without being referred.

 

 

Previous Page

Table of Contents

Next Page