Keeping participants on board: increasing uptake by automated respondent reminders in an Internet-based Chlamydia Screening in the Netherlands

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Effectiveness of Chlamydia screening programs is determined by an adequate level of participation and the capturing of high-risk groups. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of automated reminders by letter, email and short...

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Main Authors: Dokkum Nynke FB (Author), Koekenbier Rik H (Author), van den Broek Ingrid VF (Author), van Bergen Jan EAM (Author), Brouwers Elfi EHG (Author), Fennema Johannes SA (Author), Götz Hannelore M (Author), Hoebe Christian JPA (Author), Pars Lydia L (Author), van Ravesteijn Sander M (Author), Op de Coul Eline LM (Author)
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Published: BMC, 2012-03-01T00:00:00Z.
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100 1 0 |a Dokkum Nynke FB  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Koekenbier Rik H  |e author 
700 1 0 |a van den Broek Ingrid VF  |e author 
700 1 0 |a van Bergen Jan EAM  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Brouwers Elfi EHG  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Fennema Johannes SA  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Götz Hannelore M  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Hoebe Christian JPA  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Pars Lydia L  |e author 
700 1 0 |a van Ravesteijn Sander M  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Op de Coul Eline LM  |e author 
245 0 0 |a Keeping participants on board: increasing uptake by automated respondent reminders in an Internet-based Chlamydia Screening in the Netherlands 
260 |b BMC,   |c 2012-03-01T00:00:00Z. 
500 |a 10.1186/1471-2458-12-176 
500 |a 1471-2458 
520 |a <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Effectiveness of Chlamydia screening programs is determined by an adequate level of participation and the capturing of high-risk groups. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of automated reminders by letter, email and short message service (SMS) on package request and sample return in an Internet-based Chlamydia screening among people aged 16 to 29 years in the Netherlands.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Individuals not responding to the invitation letter received a reminder letter after 1 month. Email- and SMS-reminders were sent to persons who did not return their sample. It was examined to what extent reminders enhanced the response rate (% of package requests) and participation rate (% of sample return). Sociodemographic and behavioural correlates of providing a cell phone number and participation after the reminder(s) were studied by logistic regression models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of all respondents (screening round 1: 52,628, round 2: 41,729), 99% provided an email address and 72% a cell phone number. Forty-two percent of all package requests were made after the reminder letter. The proportion of invitees returning a sample increased significantly from 10% to 14% after email/SMS reminders (round 2: from 7% to 10%). Determinants of providing a cell-phone number were younger age (OR in 25-29 year olds versus 16-19 year olds = 0.8, 95%CI 0.8-0.9), non-Dutch (OR in Surinam/Antillean versus Dutch = 1.3, 95%CI 1.2-1.4, Turkish/Moroccan: 1.1, 95%CI 1.0-1.2, Sub Sahara African: 1.5, 95%CI 1.3-1.8, non-Western other 1.1, 95%CI 1.1-1.2), lower educational level (OR in high educational level versus low level = 0.8, 95%CI 0.7-0.9), no condom use during the last contact with a casual partner (OR no condom use versus condom use 1.2, 95%CI 1.1-1.3), younger age at first sexual contact (OR 19 years or older versus younger than 16: 0.7, 95%CI 0.6-0.8). Determinants for requesting a test-package after the reminder letter were male gender (OR female versus male 0.9 95%CI 0.8-0.9), non-Dutch (OR in Surinam/Antillean versus Dutch 1.3, 95%CI 1.2-1.4, Turkish/Moroccan: 1.4, 95%CI 1.3-1.5, Sub Sahara African: 1.4, 95%CI 1.2-1.5, non-Western other: 1.2, 95%CI 1.1-1.2), having a long-term steady partnership (long-term versus short-term.1.2 95%CI 1.1-1.3). Email/SMS reminders seem to have resulted in more men and people aged 25-29 years returning a sample.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Nearly all respondents (99.5%) were reachable by modern communication media. Response and participation rates increased significantly after the reminders. The reminder letters also seemed to result in reaching more people at risk. Incorporation of automated reminders in Internet-based (<b>C</b>hlamydia) screening programs is strongly recommended.</p> 
546 |a EN 
690 |a <it>Chlamydia trachomatis</it> 
690 |a Screening 
690 |a The Netherlands 
690 |a Internet 
690 |a Public aspects of medicine 
690 |a RA1-1270 
655 7 |a article  |2 local 
786 0 |n BMC Public Health, Vol 12, Iss 1, p 176 (2012) 
787 0 |n http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/176 
787 0 |n https://doaj.org/toc/1471-2458 
856 4 1 |u https://doaj.org/article/f0abcdcd5ac64c8d8efcf9cfaf5b99b9  |z Connect to this object online.