A public health service to promote safe sex
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Design of a sexual health service for women on opioid substitution treatment in community pharmacy
IRAS ID
205701
Contact name
Laura Medina-Perucha
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Using opioids has been linked to being at higher risk of having had a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, and blood-borne viruses (BBV), such as HIV or Hepatitis B/C. Women getting OST are even at a more unsafe position, compared to men and other groups of women.
On the other hand, even though there is effective treatment for most STIs, they can cause serious health problems if they are not treated. However, BBVs are chronic and serious diseases for which there is no cure.
Because it is very important to detect and treat STIs and BBV in time, prevention could be crucial. Most health services to mainly prevent HIV by reducing unsafe drug use (e.g. sharing needles in people who inject drugs). However, having unprotected sex (i.e. having sex without using a condom) is the main way how STIs and BBV are spread. Also, prevention STIs and other BBV (i.e. Hepatitis B and c) should be a priority as well.
This study aims to design a service to promote safe sex (i.e. the use of condoms, or not having sex) to prevent STIs and BBV in women who are under OST. Because OST users attend their pharmacy very often, this service will be designed to be available in community pharmacies. The study is divided in three phases. A total of up to 50 people (30 women on OST, and 20 community pharmacists) will be asked to take part in the study. To participate, they will have to take part in one individual interview, and in up to four group discussions. The aims of these interviews and discussions will be to know more about the views of both women on OST and community pharmacists, in how to promote safe sex in pharmacy and together with the OST.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0432
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion