Understanding risk and risk reduction for STIs and BBVs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and implementation of bio-behavioural Rapid Risk Assessment System for sexually transmitted infections and blood borne viruses
IRAS ID
172796
Contact name
David Wilson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study is being conducted by University College London (UCL) in collaboration with Public Health England (PHE) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The overall goal of this study is to improve understanding of the behaviours, attitudes, and factors that influence the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs) in key populations to inform the targeting, development, and delivery of timely interventions to maximize patient and public health benefit. We aim to develop and validate a bio-behavioural rapid risk assessment system (RRAS) for periodic, in-depth exploration and assessment of behaviours, attitudes, decision-making, and factors influencing STIs and BBVs risk in key population groups attending sexual health clinics. The RRAS consists of three phases: Phase 1: Systematic reviews if needed, Phase 2: Qualitative research and development of the survey and Phase 3: Survey. The survey will be implemented systematically for short periods (typically few weeks) in sexual health clinics and linked to existing disaggregated de-anonymised clinical and laboratory outcomes and socio-demographic data collected routinely by PHE as part of national STIs surveillance Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset (GUMCAD) and Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme (GRASP).
To demonstrate proof of concept, our study focuses on two exemplar populations who experience high levels of STIs: people of Black Caribbean and ‘black other’ (BCBO) ethnicity, and men who have sex with men (MSM). We will conduct a multi-site, mixed-methods study among these populations in sexual health clinics with relatively large proportions of Black Caribbeans, ‘black other’, and MSM attendees in England, UK. We have completed Phase 1 of RRAS. This protocol focuses on RRAS Phase 2 during which we will explore the socio-cultural and behavioural factors that influence STIs risk among people of BCBO ethnicity and among MSM; assess the feasibility and acceptability of the survey among them and among the sexual health clinics; and develop, refine and validate the survey tool. In phase 3, we will then assess the feasibility of implementing the survey in sexual health clinics to collect data on socio-sexual factors and behaviours influencing STIs risk and linkage to existing routinely collected national STI surveillance datasets. UCL will lead the study among BCBO population and LSHTM will lead the study among MSM.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0223
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion