Prevalence of Prophylaxis for STIs Study (POPS) version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the Prevalence of Prophylaxis for Sexually Transmitted Infections use among Sexual Health Clinic users
IRAS ID
280964
Contact name
John Saunders
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2021/10/50 health research, UCL Data Protection Registration Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study is being conducted by University College London (UCL) in collaboration with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections (BBSTI). The overall goal of this cross-sectional questionnaire study is to improve understanding of the prevalence and factors associated with the use of antimicrobial agents (antibiotics and oral antiseptics) for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among users of specialist sexual health services (SHS). This will inform the targeting and development of interventions to improve patient and public health. We aim to estimate the prevalence of antimicrobial STI prophylaxis use and the socio-demographic and behavioural factors associated with its use among key populations using SHS. Participants will be invited to complete a fully anonymous electronic self-completion questionnaire.
Our aim is to improve understanding of the prevalence of use and factors associated with the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for STIs among SHS attendees. There is little current published research on this and this focuses on the use of antibiotics to prevent STIs in gay and bisexual men (GBM) who are also users of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. Our proposed study would explore the prevalence of antibiotic use as well as antiseptic use to prevent STIs among all key populations attending SHS i.e. expanding our understanding regarding STI prophylaxis use to heterosexual populations, men and women living with HIV and GBM who are not using HIV PrEP. This improved understanding of the current prevalence of use and factors associated with use will help to inform future research and development of interventions to improve patient and public health.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SC/0017
Date of REC Opinion
18 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion