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Genital herpes education and counselling: testing a one-page 'FAQ' intervention
1Division of Research and Health Communications, American Social Health Association, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. lisagilbert@ashastd.org
Herpes : the Journal of the IHMF
|March 25, 2009
Summary
A new FAQ sheet aids in diagnosing herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections. While not reducing visit times, it improved patient satisfaction and provider topic coverage, potentially reducing HSV-2 transmission.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Patient Education
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) antibodies are present in 17% of US adults, with most unaware of their infection.
- Diagnosing HSV-2 infection can improve patient behavior and reduce transmission rates.
- Healthcare providers face challenges in diagnosing genital herpes due to time constraints and patient counseling difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a one-page frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) sheet in managing initial diagnostic visits for HSV-2.
- To assess the impact of the FAQ sheet on diagnostic visit duration, patient satisfaction, provider topic coverage, and resource provision.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 147 patients and 26 providers compared pre- and post-implementation data of the FAQ sheet.
- Data collected included diagnostic visit time, patient satisfaction surveys, and provider reporting on topics covered and resources offered.
Main Results:
- The FAQ sheet did not significantly reduce diagnostic visit times.
- Favorable trends were observed in patient satisfaction with certain topics.
- Providers demonstrated increased coverage of topics and offered more resources to patients.
Conclusions:
- The FAQ sheet appears to be a useful tool for simplifying HSV-2 information, prompting providers, and offering patient resources.
- Further research is needed to determine patient utilization, comprehension, and the overall helpfulness of the FAQ sheet in clinical practice.
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