Traditionally, in-person conversations, telephone calls, and mailed correspondence have been the main approaches to partner notification. PN can be accomplished using different methods of communication. It starts with the index patient taking responsibility for notifying partners and a provider becomes involved only if the index patient does not follow up within a previously agreed upon time frame (usually 24-48 hours). Contract referral, also known as conditional referral, is a combination of the previous two. In the case of provider referral, a health care worker or trained public health officer elicits information about sexual partners from the index patient and then notifies those partners while maintaining the confidentiality of the index patient. Patient-based referral – also known simply as patient referral or self-referral – involves the index patient notifying current and/or recent sexual partners of the risk of infection and the need for medical assessment. In one study, for example, only 60 per cent of family practitioners reported that it is their usual practice to recommend PN to index patients with Chlamydia while only 42 per cent of male index patients and 26 per cent of female index patients were advised to notify current and recent sexual partners Who is responsible for Partner Notification?Īpproaches to PN can be classified according to who takes responsibility for informing partners of exposure to an STI. Research also demonstrates that that there are significant gaps between PN guidelines and PN practices. As a result, PN practices vary considerably by jurisdiction. Are there standards for Partner Notification?Ĭurrently, partner notification is highly recommended in the Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections, but it is not required in most provinces and territories. Research also suggests that PN with high-risk populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), can lead to behaviour changes that reduce the spread of infection as well as the chances of re-infection. PN is important for all STIs, but may be especially critical for infections that are often asymptomatic or latent, such as Syphilis and Chlamydia, in which case partners may not be aware of the need for testing and treatment. Partner notification helps to ensure that affected individuals get treatment and also helps to reduce the further spread of STIs. Ideally, when patients are diagnosed with an STI, their sexual partners are notified of exposure as well as invited for testing, counselling, and, if necessary, treatment. Partner notification (PN) is an essential public health intervention for the control of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). What are the purposes of Partner Notification?
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