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Designing partner-notification programs to maximize client participation: a factorial survey approach.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2002;29(2):92-99.
Hennessy M, Williams SP, Mercier MM, Malotte CK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Factorial survey methods were used to elicit preferences for partner-notification
contact, interviewing, and treatment procedures. Most of the experimental
alternatives were not rated as highly as standard practice, although there
were differences in ratings in accordance with respondents' roles as infected
persons or sex partners of infected persons. GOAL: To report on research
that identifies the preferences of clients and potential clients for different
features of partner-notification programs. STUDY DESIGN: A factorial survey
was used to investigate which aspects of current and potential partner-notification
programs increase the likelihood of cooperation. Six dimensions defined the
hypothetical programs: (1) the sex of the client, (2) the ethnicity of the
person meeting with the client,(3) the location of the first meeting with
the client, (4) the method of collecting data on sex partners, (5) the contact
and referral methods for partners, and (6) how infected sex partners receive
medical treatment. Respondents (n = 186) were recruited from a county-run
STD clinic, a community clinic, and a community-based organization that primarily
provided drug treatment. Each respondent evaluated five different vignettes
from two different perspectives: (1) as an infected person and (2) as a sex
partner of an infected person. RESULTS: Regression analysis of the responses
showed that most experimental approaches to partner notification were negatively
evaluated in comparison with evaluations for the conventional program description.
There were some differences between the two sets of results, depending on
the role of the respondent, suggesting that as sex partners of infected persons,
respondents are less concerned about confidentiality at the notification
stage but more concerned about it at the treatment stage. Finally, there
was no effect of the ethnic or sex match between the disease intervention
specialist program staff and the client; this demonstrates that professionalism
and training can overcome cultural or ethnic disparities between program
staff and clients.