Peer-led approaches are hypothesized to increase screening uptake but their feasibility and acceptability to young people are not known.
The researchers asked the participants for their views and experiences of discussing chlamydia screening and distributing kits to their friends 4–8 weeks after the focus group/interview. All kits returned to the laboratory over 9 months were recorded.
The researchers recruited six men and six women. They distributed forty-five kits, thirty-three to female participants. Twenty -two and three of kits given to females and males, respectively, were given to peers. Ten kits all of which had been given out by females were returned for testing. Participants generally felt positive about the idea of PLS. However, embarrassment was a key theme, particularly among men. Women were able to discuss PLS among their close friends. Both sexes felt PLS would be easier if kits were readily available in multiple sizes, and chlamydia screening was more widely promoted.
The study concluded that female PLS but not male PLS was successful in recruiting peers to participate in chlamydia screening. An evaluation of the acceptability and cost-effectiveness of PLS is now indicated.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/39/1/21
