Emergency department revisits: a nation-wide database analysis on the same and different hospital revisits.

OBJECTIVES: Emergency department (ED) revisits had traditionally been used as a quality indicator, but focused more on the same hospital revisit (SHRV). Our study investigated the 72-hour ED revisits on SHRV and different hospital revisits (DHRV), and explored the predictors of DHRV. METHODS: 72-hour ED revisits were analyzed using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database that contained one-third patient records from 2012 to 2013. Rates of SHRV and DHRV were calculated and compared among levels of hospital accreditation. Linear regression analyses were used to measure the correlation between revisit rates and average monthly volumes of the index ED. Multilevel logistic analyses were performed to evaluate the predictors of DHRV. RESULTS: There were 4 065 215 index ED visits. Of them, 234 826 (5.8%) were associated with 72-hour revisits and 36.7% of them occurred at different institutions. The revisit rates showed differences across distinct hospital levels. DHRV rates had significant inverse correlation with the average monthly volume of the index ED. Independent predictors associated with the increased odds of DHRV were: ED visits on weekend or holiday, or the index ED being at a local hospital. CONCLUSIONS: About one in three ED revisits occurred in another hospital. SHRV rate alone would inevitably underestimate the true revisit rate. DHRV is associated with the hospital level and annual ED volume, and there is increased likelihood of DHRV if patient's index ED visit being a local hospital.

The Effect of Information Technology on the Information Exchange between Laboratories and Ambulatory Care Centers: A Systematic Review.

Laboratory services form an integral part of medical care in the decision-making of physicians, including those working at ambulatory care centers. Information exchange is essential between ambulatory care centers and laboratories. Inevitable errors have always existed in the exchange of such information on paper, which can be to some extent avoided by developing appropriate computer-based interfaces. Therefore, this review aimed to examine studies conducted to determine the effect of electronic communication between ambulatory care centers and laboratories. This systematic review was conducted on the basis of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Studies were searched in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science, and those written in English and published between 2000 and February 2019 with full texts available were selected. From a total of 3898 papers retrieved from the studied databases, 24 papers were eligible for entering this study after removing similar and nonrelated studies. Electronic exchanges between ambulatory care centers and laboratories can have numerous benefits in terms of financial, organizational, and quality. This evidence for the value of electronic communications is an important factor contributing to its local investment and adoption.

Patient experience with family history tool: analysis of patients' experience sharing their family health history through patient-computer dialogue in a patient portal.

OBJECTIVE: The collection and use of a family health history are important for assessing the patient's risk of disease, but history taking is often impeded by practical barriers in the office. Provision for patient-computer dialogue, linked with the electronic health record, may enable patients to contribute their history while bypassing these barriers. We sought to assess the patient experience using such a tool. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We linked the family history module of a computer-based medical history to the patient portal of a large academic health system. The interview consisted of 39 primary questions with a predetermined high test-retest reliability. Patients' results were structured and summarized, and available within their electronic health record. Patients optionally completed a survey about their experience. We inductively analyzed free-text responses collected between 2014 and 2016. RESULTS: Among 97 781 patient portal users, 9562 patients accessed and 4223 patients completed the family medical history interview. Of these patients, 1451 completed our survey. Main themes that were identified included (1) patient empowerment, (2) anticipated value, (3) validity concerns, (4) privacy concerns, and (5) reflections on patient-computer dialogue. Patients also provided suggestions for the improvement of future family history tools. DISCUSSION: Patients providing their family health information is an example of collaborative electronic work with clinicians and was seen as valuable by those who participated. Concerns related to contextual information and uncertainty need to be addressed. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-computer dialogue to collect family medical history empowered patients and added perceived value and efficiency to the patient experience of care.

Caracterização do modelo de atenção básica à saúde bucal na região nordeste no período de 2015-2017 / Characterization of the primary care model in oral health in northeast region in the period 2015-2017 / Caracterización del modelo de atención básica a la salud bucal en la región nordeste en el período de 2015-2017

Introdução: Os Sistemas de informação têm como finalidade promover a elaboração e facilitar a avaliação de políticas, planos e programas de saúde, uma vez que seus indicadores refletem a saúde da população. Objetivo: O presente estudo tem como objetivo caracterizar o modelo de atenção básica à saúde bucal na região Nordeste do Brasil, a partir de dados secundários da produção ambulatorial em saúde bucal, disponíveis no SIA-SUS. Material e método: Tratou-se de estudo descritivo e quantitativo, utilizando dados secundários a partir da produção ambulatorial da atenção básica em saúde bucal, disponíveis no Sistema de Informações Ambulatoriais do Sistema Único de Saúde (SIA-SUS). A coleta dos dados foi feita a partir do banco de dados do Departamento de Informática do SUS (DATASUS) e considerou o período de janeiro de 2015 a dezembro de 2017. Foram incluídos no estudo os dados sobre os procedimentos curativos e preventivos realizados em ambiente ambulatorial pelos cirurgiões-dentistas. Os dados foram apresentados por meio de estatística descritiva. Resultados: Obteve-se em 2015, o maior número total de procedimentos realizados (52.801.784). Do total de procedimentos curativos entre 2015-2017, tem-se maioria de procedimentos restauradores (22,7%) e minoria de procedimentos cirúrgicos (15,2%). Observa-se que, nos três anos estudados, a produção de procedimentos curativos superou a de procedimentos preventivos. Conclusão: O modelo básico de atenção à saúde bucal no Nordeste apresentou caráter curativo, com predominância dos procedimentos restauradores, seguidos pelos periodontais, ficando em menor número os procedimentos cirúrgicos(AU)

Introduction: Information systems aim to promote the elaboration and facilitate the evaluation of policies, health plans and programs, since their indicators reflect the health of the population. Objective: The objective of this study is to characterize the primary care model for oral health in the Northeast region of Brazil, based on secondary data on ambulatory oral health production available at SIA-SUS. Material and method: This was a descriptive and quantitative study, using secondary data from the outpatient production of primary care in oral health, available in the Outpatient Information System of the Unified Health System (SIA-SUS). Data collection was done from the database of the Department of Information Technology of the SUS (DATASUS) and considered the period from January 2015 to December 2017. Data were included in the study on curative and preventive procedures performed in an outpatient setting by dentists. The data were presented through descriptive statistics. Results: The highest number of procedures performed (52,801,784) was obtained in 2015. Of the total curative procedures between 2015-2017, a majority of restorative procedures (22.7%) and minority of surgical procedures (15.2%) were performed. It is observed that in the three years studied, the production of curative procedures surpassed that of preventive procedures. Conclusion: The the primary care model for oral health in the Northeast was curative, predominantly restorative procedures, followed by periodontal procedures, with fewer surgical procedures(AU)

Introducción: Los sistemas de información tienen como finalidad promover la elaboración y facilitar la evaluación de políticas, planes y programas de salud, ya que sus indicadores reflejan la salud de la población. Objetivo: El presente estudio tiene como objetivo caracterizar el modelo de atención básica a la salud bucal en la región Nordeste de Brasil, a partir de datos secundarios de la producción ambulatoria en salud bucal, disponibles en el SIA-SUS. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y cuantitativo, con datos secundarios obtenidos a partir del tratamiento ambulatorio de atención dental básica disponible en el Sistema de Información Ambulatoria del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS-SIA). La recolección de los datos fue hecha a partir del banco de datos del Departamento de Informática del SUS (DATASUS) y consideró el período de enero de 2015 a diciembre de 2017. Se incluyeron en el estudio los datos sobre los procedimientos curativos y preventivos realizados en ambiente ambulatorio por los cirujanos-dentistas. Los datos fueron presentados por medio de estadística descriptiva. Resultados: Obtuvo en 2015, el mayor número total de procedimientos realizados (52.801.784). Del total de procedimientos curativos entre 2015-2017, se tienen mayoría de procedimientos restauradores (22,7%) y minoría de procedimientos quirúrgicos (15,2%). reveló que, en los tres años estudiados, la producción de procedimientos curativos superó la de procedimientos preventivos. Conclusión: El modelo básico de atención a la salud bucal en el Nordeste presentó carácter curativo, con predominio de los procedimientos restauradores, seguidos por los periodontales, quedando en menor número los procedimientos quirúrgicos(AU)

Provider and patient satisfaction with the integration of ambulatory and hospital EHR systems.

Objective: The installation of EHR systems can disrupt operations at clinical practice sites, but also lead to improvements in information availability. We examined how the installation of an ambulatory EHR at OB/GYN practices and its subsequent interface with an inpatient perinatal EHR affected providers' satisfaction with the transmission of clinical information and patients' ratings of their care experience. Methods: We collected data on provider satisfaction through 4 survey rounds during the phased implementation of the EHR. Data on patient satisfaction were drawn from Press Ganey surveys issued by the healthcare network through a standard process. Using multivariable models, we determined how provider satisfaction with information transmission and patient satisfaction with their care experience changed as the EHR system allowed greater information flow between OB/GYN practices and the hospital. Results: Outpatient OB/GYN providers became more satisfied with their access to information from the inpatient perinatal triage unit once system capabilities included automatic data flow from triage back to the OB/GYN offices. Yet physicians were generally less satisfied with how the EHR affected their work processes than other clinical and non-clinical staff. Patient satisfaction dropped after initial EHR installation, and we find no evidence of increased satisfaction linked to system integration. Conclusions: Dissatisfaction of providers with an EHR system and difficulties incorporating EHR technology into patient care may negatively impact patient satisfaction. Care must be taken during EHR implementations to maintain good communication with patients while satisfying documentation requirements.

Evaluation of Specialized Oral Health Procedures Performed in Brazil in the Period from 2008 to 2012

Objective: To analyze the correlations between the production of specialized dental procedures from 2008 to 2012 and factors related to the services and context of the Brazilian states. Material and Methods: A quantitative ecological-type study was developed, in which secondary data from Brazilian national databases were used. Procedures for outpatient production of specialized procedures throughout Brazil, from 2008 to 2012, were consolidated from the offering state, the state of the federation being the analysis unit. In order to collect data on coverage by oral health family teams in the Family Health Strategy, as well as the number of CEOs per state, the Strategic Support Management Room (SAGE) was accessed. The corresponding indicator mean proportion of specialized procedures in Brazil (Pmb) was used as dependent variable. Correlations were tested using Spearman's test. The software was Statistical Package for Social Sciences, v. 17.0, with a level of significance of 5%. Results: Pmb was 4.9% for the evaluated period. There was a negative correlation between indicator and the coverage of oral health teams in the family health strategy. Conclusion: The correlations analyzed were influenced by the organization and distribution of the professionals' workforce; revealing that the non-organization of the health care network may increase the performance of specialized procedures resulting from spontaneous demand due to the poor basic care coverage.

Cervical cancer screening: How our approach may change.

Accumulating evidence has begun to alter priorities in testing modalities and in testing intervals, and further changes may be on the way.

Parâmetros de cobertura assistencial: uma análise da suficiência dos serviços especializados de saúde / Parameters of health care coverage: an analysis of the sufficiency of specialized health services

No Brasil, a oferta de serviços de média complexidade constitui-se em um dos maiores pontos de estrangulamento do sistema. Assim, as portarias MPAS Nº 3.046/82 e GM/MS Nº 1.101/02 garantiram por décadas as coberturas assistenciais de saúde no SUS através de parâmetros. A lógica restritiva e racionalizadora da oferta e utilização dessas portarias foi refutada pela recente criação da Portaria GM/MS nº 1.631/2015 a qual traz nova configuração de um novo padrão de suficiência de oferta de serviços de saúde municipais. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi estudar a suficiência da oferta de consultas especializadas da rede municipal de saúde de um município em Pernambuco. Tratou-se de um estudo do tipo transversal com uma abordagem quantitativa, onde buscou-se a identificação da oferta da rede própria pelo Infocrás (Sistema de Regulação Municipal de Caruaru) e da rede conveniada pelo Sistema de Informações Ambulatorial Municipal (SIA-SUS Municipal) das especialidades médicas de Cardiologia, Nefrologia e Oftalmologia. A partir disso, foram comparadas com os parâmetros nacionais preconizados (Portaria nº 1.631/15). Foi averiguada paralelamente a capacidade de atendimento dos profissionais da rede própria e conveniada mediante fórmula apresentada em estudos da literatura. Apontou-se que houve déficits de consultas na oferta de nefrologia (68%) e oftalmologia da rede própria (74%) e superávits de consultas na oferta de cardiologia (100,83%) e oftalmologia da rede conveniada (194,17%). A utilização dessas ofertas apresentou-se com flutuações positivas e negativas num aspecto temporal. Perante a capacidade de atendimento das redes própria e conveniada do município, a cardiologia e oftalmologia da rede conveniada mostraramse como as especialidades mais utilizadas (170% e 241%, respectivamente) e a nefrologia e oftalmologia da rede própria as especialidades menos utilizadas (27% e 31%, respectivamente). Uma vez que há descompassos significativos na relação entre o que é ofertado e utilizado mesmo com os parâmetros da recente portaria ajustados, há de se considerar que a oferta do município está aquém da real oferta satisfatória que atenda as necessidades da população e existem inconsistências na aplicabilidade da portaria 1.631/15 para preservar a garantia da suficiência dos serviços especializados de saúde no município de Caruaru.(AU)

Seguindo a RAAS CAPS afora (e adentro): observação da atuação de um documento no cotidiano de um serviço / Following RAAS CAPS away (and internally): document action observation in the routine of a service

Nesta pesquisa foram investigados os processos pelos quais passam o documento de Registros Ações Ambulatoriais em Saúde (RAAS) em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS), a partir dos vestígios deixados pelos atores que compõem o cotidiano do serviço. Tendo como orientação metodológica os caminhos propostos pela Teoria Ator-Rede (TAR) de Bruno Latour, buscou-se observar as controvérsias em torno da RAAS enquanto ator não-humano. Para o entendimento da posição da RAAS na rede onde esta pesquisa se situa, é feito um resgate das diferentes formas de registros já utilizadas pelos CAPS e da própria história da Reforma Psiquiátrica Brasileira (RPB), com intuito também de traçar os panoramas de onde parte a pesquisa e a pesquisadora. Durante a investigação das ações da RAAS emergiu a importância de diversos documentos para o processo de trabalho da equipe, artefatos diretamente relacionados ao trabalho dos profissionais do CAPS. A construção deste sentido foi possível a partir da observação de um usuário do serviço, cuja performance também será relatada no trabalho. A partir das investigações feitas em campo foi possível observar a atuação da RAAS em diferentes frentes. Ela se mostrou como auxiliar na organização e manutenção de projetos terapêuticos e provocadora de tensões no processo de trabalhos, chegando a ser citada como gatilho de stress. Um formulário com espaço limitado para dados objetivos e padronizados, a RAAS era utilizada como comunicação de procedimentos entre níveis de gestão, mas essa sistematização servia também aos próprios trabalhadores. A função de comunicação, segundo a gestão local, pareceu ter um desempenho falho, no entanto, este uso é o principal argumento utilizado pela gestão nacional para a implementação da RAAS e dele se valem a Prefeitura Municipal de Campinas e o SSCF para o estabelecimento de pactos e metas de produção. O propósito desta pesquisa foi oferecer maior amplitude no alcance da visão da RPB

Factores determinantes y coste económico del absentismo de pacientes en consultas externas de la Agencia Sanitaria Costa del Sol / Determinants and economic cost of patient absenteeism in outpatient departments of the Costa del Sol Health Agency

Fundamento: Identificar los factores de la persona, el proceso y el contexto que influyen en el cumplimiento de las citas de consultas externas en la Agencia Sanitaria Costa del Sol, describiendo el perfil del paciente que no acude a su cita, los motivos del absentismo y realizando una estimación del coste económico. Método: Estudio observacional, multicéntrico de casos y controles, mediante encuesta a pacientes citados en consultas ambulatorias durante 2013 y 2014 y análisis de costes por consultas. Resultados: Participaron en el estudio 882 pacientes (294 casos y 588 controles). El olvido (29,6%; n=87) y el fallo en la comunicación (16%; n=47), fueron los principales motivos manifestados por los pacientes absentistas. Una menor demora en la cita y la edad avanzada se asociaban significativamente con menos ausencias, al igual que haber frecuentado más las consultas en el último año. El coste económico fue superior a 3 millones de euros para una tasa de inasistencia del 13,8%. Conclusiones: Los pacientes jóvenes que no frecuentan habitualmente las consultas constituyen el grupo de mayor riesgo de ausencia a las citas programadas en nuestra área sanitaria. Los principales motivos del absentismo son evitables y podrían beneficiarse de intervenciones como la mejora de los procedimientos de comunicación o sistemas de recordatorio de citas (AU)

Background: To identify factors related to the people, the process and the context that determine patient compliance with their appointments in the ambulatory outpatient services in the Costa del Sol Health Care Agency; and to obtain the profile of patients who fail to keep their appointments, the reasons for this failure and an estimation of its economic cost. Methods: Observational multicenter case-control study, through a survey carried out on patients with an appointment in the ambulatory outpatient services during 2013 and 2014, and analysis of the cost per appointment. Results: In total, 882 patients participated in the study (294 cases and 588 controls). The main reasons for missing an appointment were forgetting about it (29, 6%; n=87), and failure in communication (16%; n=47). A shorter time period before the appointment and older age were significantly associated with fewer absences, as well as the fact of having attended more consultations in the past year. The economic cost was more than 3 million euros for a non-attendance rate of 13.8%. Conclusions: Young patients who usually do not visit outpatient clinics are at greatest risk of absence from scheduled appointments in our health area. The main reasons for absenteeism are preventable and interventions such as improved communication procedures or appointment reminder systems could be beneficial (AU)

The effect of electronic reminders on risk management among diabetic patients in low resourced settings.

BACKGROUND: Information technology has potential to improve health care delivery particularly among individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Research on the usefulness of information technology to manage persons living with chronic diseases is scarce in LMIC. We sought to evaluate the effect of an electronic reminder system on cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, heart rate, and fasting plasma glucose) and adherence to clinical appointments among persons living with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized controlled design was used to recruit 200 diabetic patients (intervention n=100, control n=100) from the National Diabetes Management Research Centre, Accra. All patients received usual diabetes care. The intervention group was given electronic reminders for their clinical appointments and their physicians were prompted with abnormal laboratory results for six months. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were largely similar for both groups. At six months follow up, the mean reductions of all the cardiovascular risk factors in the intervention group were significantly greater than in the control group: -1.7 kg/m(2) versus -1.1 kg/m(2)(p=0.002) for BMI; -4.7 mmHg versus -2.8 mmHg (p=0.002) for SBP; -5.3 mmH versus -3.1 mmHg (p=0.001) for DBP; -1.7 bpm versus -0.1 bpm (p=0.001) for heart rate and -2.3 mmol/L versus -1.6 mmol/L (p=0.001) for fasting plasma glucose, respectively. Adherence to appointment schedules was also significantly higher in the intervention group compared with the control group (97.8% versus 89.4%, p=0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Locally developed electronic initiatives such as this resulted in improved cardiovascular risk factors and effective compliance to clinical practices and improved quality of care for persons living with diabetes.

Improving identification of fall-related injuries in ambulatory care using statistical text mining.

OBJECTIVES: We determined whether statistical text mining (STM) can identify fall-related injuries in electronic health record (EHR) documents and the impact on STM models of training on documents from a single or multiple facilities. METHODS: We obtained fiscal year 2007 records for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) ambulatory care clinics in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico, resulting in a total of 26 010 documents for 1652 veterans treated for fall-related injury and 1341 matched controls. We used the results of an STM model to predict fall-related injuries at the visit and patient levels and compared them with a reference standard based on chart review. RESULTS: STM models based on training data from a single facility resulted in accuracy of 87.5% and 87.1%, F-measure of 87.0% and 90.9%, sensitivity of 92.1% and 94.1%, and specificity of 83.6% and 77.8% at the visit and patient levels, respectively. Results from training data from multiple facilities were almost identical. CONCLUSIONS: STM has the potential to improve identification of fall-related injuries in the VHA, providing a model for wider application in the evolving national EHR system.

Task analysis of information technology-mediated medication management in outpatient care.

AIMS: Educating physicians in the procedural as well as cognitive skills of information technology (IT)-mediated medication management could be one of the missing links for the improvement of patient safety. We aimed to compose a framework of tasks that need to be addressed to optimize medication management in outpatient care. METHODS: Formal task analysis: decomposition of a complex task into a set of subtasks. First, we obtained a general description of the medication management process from exploratory interviews. Secondly, we interviewed experts in-depth to further define tasks and subtasks. SETTING: Outpatient care in different fields of medicine in six teaching and academic medical centres in the Netherlands and the United States. PARTICIPANTS: 20 experts. Tasks were divided up into procedural, cognitive and macrocognitive tasks and categorized into the three components of dynamic decision making. RESULTS: The medication management process consists of three components: (i) reviewing the medication situation; (ii) composing a treatment plan; and (iii) accomplishing and communicating a treatment and surveillance plan. Subtasks include multiple cognitive tasks such as composing a list of current medications and evaluating the reliability of sources, and procedural tasks such as documenting current medication. The identified macrocognitive tasks were: planning, integration of IT in workflow, managing uncertainties and responsibilities, and problem detection. CONCLUSIONS: All identified procedural, cognitive and macrocognitive skills should be included when designing education for IT-mediated medication management. The resulting framework supports the design of educational interventions to improve IT-mediated medication management in outpatient care.

Patient perspectives on test result communication in primary care: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Although the number of blood tests ordered in primary care continues to increase, efficient systems for the communication of blood test results to patients are lacking. This is a concern in terms of both patient safety and patient satisfaction. AIM: To gain an understanding of patient perspectives on organisational and technological aspects of current and prospective systems for communicating laboratory test results in primary care, and the influences that impact patients' preferred methods for receiving results. DESIGN AND SETTING: Qualitative study using patient focus groups in four primary care practices in Birmingham, UK. METHOD: The primary care practices were purposively selected to ensure they varied in size, socioeconomic environment, and the default pathways they used to communicate test results. A total of 26 patients from the four practices who had had a recent blood test were recruited. Over a 6 month period in 2011, six, 1-hour focus groups were conducted at the four practices involved in the study. RESULTS: Patients expressed a preference for receiving results from the ordering GP or a clinically qualified member of staff. Suggestions for refining current systems included improved access to phlebotomy appointments, better management of patient telephone calls, and a clear, accessible protocol for the communication of results. CONCLUSION: Despite the testing and result communication process being a core activity in primary care, it was found that practices could improve their service in a number of areas. Patients described frequent delays and inconsistency in both the level of information and the method of communication, as well as dissatisfaction with non-clinical staff relaying results. Patient preferences for result communication based on their experience of current systems have produced practical suggestions to improve processes.

Patients' online access to their electronic health records and linked online services: a systematic review in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Online access to medical records by patients can potentially enhance provision of patient-centred care and improve satisfaction. However, online access and services may also prove to be an additional burden for the healthcare provider. AIM: To assess the impact of providing patients with access to their general practice electronic health records (EHR) and other EHR-linked online services on the provision, quality, and safety of health care. DESIGN AND SETTING: A systematic review was conducted that focused on all studies about online record access and transactional services in primary care. METHOD: Data sources included MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EPOC, DARE, King's Fund, Nuffield Health, PsycINFO, OpenGrey (1999-2012). The literature was independently screened against detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria; independent dual data extraction was conducted, the risk of bias (RoB) assessed, and a narrative synthesis of the evidence conducted. RESULTS: A total of 176 studies were identified, 17 of which were randomised controlled trials, cohort, or cluster studies. Patients reported improved satisfaction with online access and services compared with standard provision, improved self-care, and better communication and engagement with clinicians. Safety improvements were patient-led through identifying medication errors and facilitating more use of preventive services. Provision of online record access and services resulted in a moderate increase of e-mail, no change on telephone contact, but there were variable effects on face-to-face contact. However, other tasks were necessary to sustain these services, which impacted on clinician time. There were no reports of harm or breaches in privacy. CONCLUSION: While the RoB scores suggest many of the studies were of low quality, patients using online services reported increased convenience and satisfaction. These services positively impacted on patient safety, although there were variations of record access and use by specific ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Professional concerns about privacy were unrealised and those about workload were only partly so.

Sexually transmitted infection trends among gay or bisexual men from a clinic-based sentinel surveillance system in British Columbia, Canada.

INTRODUCTION: We described trends for sexually transmitted infections (STI) among gay/bisexual men in British Columbia, Canada, using a sentinel site surveillance approach. METHODS: Using data from an electronic charting system, we included gay/bisexual men who visited high-volume STI clinics from 2000 to 2013. Diagnosis rates and incidence density were calculated for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis C, genital herpes, and genital warts. Incidence density was estimated among repeat testers who converted from a negative to positive test result. We also conducted Poisson regression analysis to determine factors that were associated with increased incidence rates. RESULTS: A total of 47,170 visits were identified for gay/bisexual men during our time frame. The median age was 34 years (interquartile range, 27-43 years), and most clients were seen in Vancouver. Although trends for most STI were stable, diagnoses of gonorrhea and syphilis have risen steadily in recent years. Coinfection with HIV was associated with higher gonorrhea and syphilis rates in the Poisson regression model. In addition, visiting a Vancouver clinic and younger age were associated with increased incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinic-based sentinel surveillance system found increasing trends for gonorrhea and syphilis among gay/bisexual men but not for other STI in British Columbia. Further investigation is required to explore the syndemic effects of syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV. This new platform will be a valuable tool for ongoing monitoring of STI and targeting prevention efforts.