(P147) PARTNER SERVICE AUTOMATED-CLOSURE INCREASES THE VERIFICATION OF PARTNER TESTING

Background:
After launching an anonymous digital Partner Service (PS) tool in 2016 and booking module in 2018, the closure of PS remained a challenge for the Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) prompting the development of an automated follow up questionnaire in 2021; however, it was not known how it would support the DIS team. We therefore evaluated the engagement with and utility of this new service for PS closure.

Methods:
Data from English services using the digital PS tool in 2023 was analysed focussing on partners verified tested by four different routes and filtered for the index patients who were sent a link to inform partners using the PS tool on their cell phone and subsequent receipt of a follow-up questionnaire. Analysis included clinics, infection(s) and index patient demographics.

Results:
The digital PS tool was used with 20155 index patients across 54 clinics and a PS tool link was sent to the majority (15294, 76%). The gender, age, sexuality and diagnosed sexually transmitted infections were comparable in index patients regardless of PS tool enrolment; however, more heterosexuals were recorded in index patients who were not sent the link.

The 15294 index patients had a total of 14606 partners verified as seen and tested (0.96 partners/index (P/I)) of these 2578 partners were verified at PS initiation (0.17 P/I), 4170 partners had testing verified via the digital PS software (0.29 P/I), 5270 of verified partners were reported via the follow-up questionnaire sent to the index patient (0.36 P/I) and 2588 of the confirmed partners were recorded by the DIS during the follow-up call (0.18 P/I).

Conclusion:
The digital PS tool was able to complement the DIS team and verified two thirds of the tested partners. Further developments are required in increase digital PS tool enrolment, optimise engagement and support the DIS to target their follow-up calls.