Telehealth Innovative Solution to Engage Young Adults in STDs Prevention

Telehealth Innovative Solution to Engage Young Adults in STDs Prevention

Telehealth Innovative Solution to Engage Young Adults in STDs Prevention

STDs are a leading source of morbidity in the United States, costing an estimated $15.9 billion in direct medical costs over a lifetime (Llata et al., 2021). Studies also reveal that the annual cases of STDs in the USA continue to rise, reaching an all-time high for the eighth year. The most common reported STDs are chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. There was a nearly 30% increase in STDs between 2015 and 2019 (Gebrezgi et al., 2021). These rates are alarming, considering that the rates were lower less than 20 years ago. For example, gonorrhea was at historic lows, and syphilis was close to elimination (Trepka et al., 2021). The drastic changes show a need to prioritize efforts and regain control of the grounds to minimize the spread of STDs. As per the CDC (2019), STD surveillance, assuring that everyone has access to high-quality HIV and STD prevention and treatment, is a critical component of successful public health response to rising STD prevalence.

Collaborating with a clinic for the prevention and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), I had the opportunity to speak with relevant stakeholders and decision-makers. We were able to identify and discuss issues affecting the clinical health outcomes of STDs preventative and treatment activities. According to the stakeholders, it is common to find that some young adults with high-risk sexual behavior come to the clinic for STDs test and treatment. After that, they don’t return for continued care until they have new symptoms or an STD reinfection. Although sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) impact people of all ages, it is most noticeable among youth aged 15 to 24 (Sieving et al., 2019). Young adults are less interested in STDs prevention or behavior modification initiatives. Also, you can find other patients that start HIV PrEP medication but don’t come to the clinic for follow-up as indicated, despite the multiple efforts done by the clinical personnel.

After the discussion, I proposed that the clinic use innovative, evidence-based digital interventions to engage patients in STDs prevention and treatment while promoting community awareness. In the United States, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are rising, and additional research into effective prevention and treatment strategies is urgently needed (Shannon & Klausner 2018). Telehealth can serve as a tool that increases the availability of services for patients. Telemedicine has emerged as a critical resource for limiting disease spread by increasing patient surveillance, promoting early detection, allowing quick management of sick people, and ensuring continuity of care for vulnerable patients worldwide (Omboni et al., 2022).

It’s a tool that facilitates the work of directly promoting education, screening, treatment, and prevention for susceptible populations, like young people with high-risk sexual behavior. Sexually transmitted infections are significant public health concerns.

 

Recent CDC reports show that the rate of new STDs infections continues to be high; 4 of the 25 cities that top the list of infection rates are in Florida; Miami spiked upward and is currently ranked among the top 25 towns mostly affected (Butame et al., 2021).

Population: young adults missing appointments from an STDs clinic in Miami, Florida.

Intervention: implement telehealth follow-up protocol for patients missing appointments.

Comparison: current practice.

Outcome: improve patient outcomes, engage young adult patients in STDs prevention and treatment.

Time: eight Weeks.

PICOT Question: What is the impact of implementing telehealth follow-up protocol for young adults missing appointments from an STDs clinic over eight weeks?

Translation science model: knowledge to action

My current priority is to engage young adults in preventing Sexually Transmitted Diseases so that less effort and resources will be required for treatment interventions. Implementing a telehealth follow-up protocol for patients missing appointments will make medical care more accessible for young adults that are currently missing appointments and will cut this current gap in practice. Telehealth was created to give primary treatment to individuals in remote and underserved areas. Since the coronavirus illness epidemic in 2019, numerous practitioners have increased their use of telemedicine. Increased emphasis on patient satisfaction, efficient and quality care, and cost-cutting has also led to increased telehealth adoption (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021).

The use of telehealth by the patients and the clinic represents an opportunity to save money and time. Telehealth can be easily implemented and will be a valuable tool for patient education.

References

 CDC. Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2018. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats18/STDSurveillance2018-full-report.pdf [Ref list]

Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth Benefits and Barriers. The journal for nurse practitioners: JNP, 17(2), 218–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.013

Llata, E., Cuffe, K. M., Picchetti, V., Braxton, J. R., & Torrone, E. A. (2021). Demographic, Behavioral, and Clinical Characteristics of Persons Seeking Care at Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics – 14 Sites, STD Surveillance Network, United States, 2010-2018. Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries (Washington, D.C.: 2002), 70(7), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7007a1

Omboni, S., Padwal, R. S., Alessa, T., Benczúr, B., Green, B. B., Hubbard, I., Kario, K., Khan, N. A., Konradi, A., Logan, A. G., Lu, Y., Mars, M., McManus, R. J., Melville, S., Neumann, C. L., Parati, G., Renna, N. F., Ryvlin, P., Saner, H., Schutte, A. E., … Wang, J. (2022). The worldwide impact of telemedicine during COVID-19: current evidence and recommendations for the future. Connected health, 1, 7–35. https://doi.org/10.20517/ch.2021.03

Shannon, C. L., & Klausner, J. D. (2018). The growing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: a neglected population. Current opinion in pediatrics, 30(1), 137–143.

https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000578

Sieving, R. E., Gewirtz O’Brien, J. R., Saftner, M. A., & Argo, T. A. (2019). Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among US Adolescents and Young Adults: Patterns, Clinical Considerations, and Prevention. The Nursing clinics of North America, 54(2), 207–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2019.02.002

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