Sexual Health Messaging Service

(National Online HIV/STI Partner Notification)

Presented by Dónal Heath – Project Manager, GMFA

Presentation Outline

• Project background• How the new service

works • What we’ve learned so

far• Joining the pilot

Project background

GMFA – the gay men’s health charity

• Wanted to reduce the number of undiagnosed HIV and STI’s.

• Assumed that PN would be a more effective tool than a blanket campaign encouraging testing.

Partner Notification – a definition

“…the process of contacting the sexual partners of an individual with a sexually transmitted infection including HIV, and advising them that they have been exposed to infection.”

AIM: To reduce undiagnosed infection.

Results from PN survey

Of those who were diagnosed with HIV or an STI in the last five years:

– 19% say they were not advised by the clinic to notify their partners.

– 23% did not notify their partners, and a quarter of these men said it was because they were ‘too embarrassed’.

What we’ve done so far…

• Survey of 3,000 men

• Data protection homework

• Work with 7 clinics and 4 dating sites to develop pilot service

How the SHMS works

SHMS

Currently for MSM, potential for expansion to all patients.

Diagnosis and PN discussion

Patient is diagnosed and offered SHMS as on option for carrying out PN.

The PN card

Health adviser hands patient a card with a security PIN number on it.

Patient logs onto the SHMS websites.

(HA can also do this on patient’s behalf).

Patient sends notifications

The patient enters:

•STI(s)

•Partner contact information

•Message preferences

Partners receive notifications

The notifications include:

• Signposting to clinical services and more info on the STI at www.gmfa.org.uk

• A unique PN Reference Number

Partner’s response

The partner takes his PN number with him to a clinic. The clinic staff type the PN number into the system and it records that he has visited.

If the partner’s visit is not recorded, an automatic follow-up will ask him if he has been for a check-up and to let the system know.

How clinics can use SHMS

• To carry out Provider Referrals via dating sites, text messages and email.

• To obtain outcome data for auditing purposes.

What we’ve learned so far

1.Some men need the service, and lots don’t.

What we’ve learned so far

2.There are challenges in enabling the men who can benefit from the service to do so.

What we’ve learned so far

3.The service can ‘change attitudes’ to PN.

Moving forward

1.We are inviting more clinics to join the pilot

2.Sharing learning between pilot clinics

3.Educating gay men about PN

Joining the SHMS pilot

1. Obtain clinical governance approval

2. Agree data handling principles

3. Learn how the new service works

4. Prepare to deliver

5. Begin referring patients

Further information

donal.heath@gmfa.org.uk

020 3463 2482