Expedited Partner Therapy: A Harm Reduction Tool for Local Health Departments
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Date
2024-04-24
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Authors
Brayboy, Coty
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Abstract
Background: Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) is essential for combating sexually transmitted infections (STIs), yet its adoption is limited in local health departments (LHDs).
Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to assess and emphasize the necessity of enhancing EPT utilization in LHDs and to bolster STI prevention.
Methods: Examined existing EPT usage and identified implementation obstacles. Proposed strategic measures for wider adoption involving a review of a southern state’s STI data, STI clinic protocols, and insights from the STI Access and Availability Survey. Conducted onsite training sessions for LHD STI personnel. After these sessions, participants utilized an evaluation tool to gauge their agency's ability to incorporate EPT, their comfort in prescribing EPT, and identified barriers to EPT integration within their LHDs
Results: Out of the three LHDs that participated in this project, only one intended to implement or expand EPT. Additionally, 83% of participants with prescriptive authority felt comfortable or extremely comfortable prescribing EPT.
Conclusions: The hurdles pinpointed in the uptake of EPT by clinicians in LHDs include concerns related to clinic staffing and EPT not within the scope of the enhanced role registered nurse (ERRN).
Implications for Nursing: Enhancing EPT uptake necessitates addressing systemic barriers and promoting provider readiness in LHDs and buy-in to expand the enhanced role registered nurse (ERRN) scope to include EPT.