ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the effectiveness of a systems-based intervention designed to increase Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) screening among adolescent boys. METHODS: An intervention aimed at increasing CT screening among adolescent girls was extended to adolescent boys (14-18 years). Ten pediatric clinics in a health maintenance organization with an ethnically diverse population were randomized. Experimental clinics participated in a clinical practice improvement intervention; control clinics received traditional information on screening. RESULTS: The intervention significantly increased CT screening at the experimental sites from 0% (baseline) to 60% (18-month posttest); control sites evidenced a change only from 0% to 5%. The overall prevalence of CT was 4%. CONCLUSIONS: Although routine CT screening is currently recommended only for young sexually active women, the present results show that screening interventions can be successful in the case of adolescent boys, among whom CT is a moderate problem.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis , Chlamydia trachomatis , Mass Screening/methods , Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data , Men , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Analysis of Variance , California , Cultural Diversity , Feasibility Studies , Health Maintenance Organizations/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Linear Models , Logistic Models , Male , Mass Screening/psychology , Men/education , Men/psychology , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/ethnology , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Program Evaluation , Psychology, Adolescent , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Total Quality Management/organization & administrationABSTRACT
This study estimated the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) among sexually active, asymptomatic, multiethnic adolescent males attending preventive health maintenance visits at pediatric clinics within a large health maintenance organization. First-void urines of sexually active 14-18-year-old males were screened for CT. The CT infection rate was 4% (27/711), 95% CI = 2.5%, 5.5%.
