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Initiating Partner Notification on the Internet Wednesday, March 10 10:00-11:45

Initiating Partner Notification on the Internet Wednesday, March 10 10:00-11:45. Andrew Delicata Former Lead DIS Howard Brown Health Center PCRS Coordinator Chicago Department of Public Health. Overview. History Goals Method Results Lessons learned. History.

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Initiating Partner Notification on the Internet Wednesday, March 10 10:00-11:45

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  1. Initiating Partner Notification on the InternetWednesday, March 10 10:00-11:45 Andrew Delicata Former Lead DIS Howard Brown Health Center PCRS Coordinator Chicago Department of Public Health

  2. Overview • History • Goals • Method • Results • Lessons learned

  3. History • Performed at Howard Brown Health Center • Numerous original patients (OP’s) gave contact information for sex partners (SP’s) sought over the Internet • Creation of policies and procedures for doing Internet partner notification was long overdue

  4. History (cont.) • Prior to this project: • Only 53% of people contacted over the Internet (e-mail) responded with a phone call • All chat conversations failed to produce a phone call • We were loosing about half of all Internet contacts, all of whom had screen names

  5. History (cont.) – The E-mail • Hey, • My name is Andy Delicata from Howard Brown Health Center. I am contacting you through e-mail because I have no other contact information for you (i.e. phone number or address). • I really need to talk with you about your personal health as soon as you get this message. Due to potential confidentiality breaches I cannot tell you more in an e-mail. Therefore, I think we should talk over the phone or in person. • Please take this seriously. THIS IS NOT A JOKE. I really need to talk with you. • My phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Please try to call during these hours: M-Th 4-8pm or F 12-4pm. Otherwise leave a message. Also, for more information about Howard Brown and what we do visit our web page at www.howardbrown.org. • Sincerely, • Andy Delicata • xxx-xxx-xxxx

  6. Goals • There was a great need to better utilize chat • To notify sex partners that had been missing • Maintain safety and respect of all involved • Preserve confidentiality • Not to appear solicitous, or to appear to be seeking sex • Offer legitimacy

  7. The Goal is NOT • For Partner Notification initiated in chat, the goal is NOT • To educate • To do any type of prevention work • To notify the partner in the chat room itself

  8. Method • Solicit sex partners’ e-mail address/ screen names • Find the person in chat first • Send an e-mail • Attempt to initiate partner notification • Shift from passive (e-mail) to active (chat)

  9. Find a Person in Chat • All chat environments are different • Use a buddy list, if available • Never approach a client in an “open room” • Always use private Instant Messages (IM)

  10. Initiate Partner Notification • Introduction • Focus • Confidentiality • Respect

  11. Introduce yourself • i.e. “Hi. My name is Andy Delicata. I’m from Howard Brown Health Center. My phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Is this a good time to talk?” • “I have something important to tell you. It concerns your health. But I can’t tell you in an IM. Can you call me?”

  12. Minimize the conversation/focus • “I can tell you that over the phone. For now, the only thing I can tell you is that this concerns your health and it is very important.”

  13. Maintain confidentiality • Never state your title • Never state the disease • Never give your job description • Do not try to educate • Do not use a profile

  14. Maintain respect • Do not use the person’s real name • Instead ask, “Are you the only person who uses this screen name?” • Acknowledge this is confusing

  15. Results (After the Project) • We collected 10 sex partner’s online information from four different cases in a period of four months • All were screen names, 8 were also e-mail addresses

  16. Results (cont.) • 8/10 (80%) were found online in a chat room • 7/8 (88%) called the DIS (one person did not accept the invitation to chat) • E-mails were sent to four of the 8, but chat was the reason they called • None responded to the e-mail alone

  17. Results (cont.) • Using chat resulted in a 70% (7/10) call rate • All (100%) of chat conversation with the DIS resulted in a phone call • All phone calls resulted in the person being tested for syphilis • Two were positive and resulted in the linkage of cases

  18. Lessons Learned • Time intensive, but well worth it • More research needed (small subset of MSM in Chicago) • Introduction is key • Simultaneous e-mail can hinder efforts • No one way to initiate PN over the Internet

  19. Thank you For questions: AndrewDelicata@hotmail.com To request a copy of the policy: BeauG@howardbrown.org

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