Key barriers to the provision of chlamydia patient delivered partner therapy (PDPT) and evaluation of distribution programs in California health care settings

Patient Delivered Partner Therapy (PDPT) is the most common form of Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) where sex partners of individuals testing positive for STDs are treated without an intervening medical evaluation. EPT has been legal in California since 2001 and is allowed in 31 other states. While PDPT should only be used in the event that an index patient's partner(s) cannot or will not receive care directly from a clinician, effective PDPT use may reduce the spread and reinfection of chlamydia and gonorrhea. Because it is uncommon for insurance to reimburse for PDPT medication, California Family Health Council (CFHC) has offered free PDPT since 2005 and currently provides medication to approximately 65 California Title X funded health care organizations and two juvenile detention facilities.

In an effort to increase the use and, thereby, the effectiveness of PDPT in treating chlamydia and gonorrhea, CFHC conducted a program evaluation to better understand the current needs of PDPT distribution programs and barriers associated with PDPT provision among participating clinics. The evaluation compared actual rates of PDPT distribution to predicted levels of use, and assessed effectiveness of CFHC's current training materials, data collection, and communication with the participating agencies. Evaluation findings will be used to improve the performance of PDPT programs and integration of PDPT distribution in California family planning settings.