The Adolescent Experience of Filling Prescriptions for the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Authors

Mathavi G. Sankar, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20052.
Meleah D. Boyle, Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010.
Gia M. Badolato, Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010.
Jennifer Q. Tran, Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010.
Alexandra Lieberman, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, 3959 Broadway, New York, NY 10032.
Monika K. Goyal, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20052; Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010. Electronic address: mgoyal@childrensnational.org.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-1-2022

Journal

Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology

Volume

35

Issue

3

DOI

10.1016/j.jpag.2021.12.009

Keywords

Adolescents; Mobile health; Sex; Sexually transmitted infections; Treatment adherence

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe adolescents' experience with treatment adherence when prescribed antibiotics for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in emergency departments (ED). METHODS: Adolescents diagnosed with STIs in two EDs and prescribed outpatient treatment were interviewed to identify barriers and facilitators to treatment adherence. RESULTS: Of 26 participants, 46.2% filled their prescriptions, 38.5% returned to the ED for treatment, 7.7% received treatment elsewhere, and 7.7% received no treatment. All adolescents who filled their prescriptions notified caregivers of their diagnosis, compared with 50.0% who returned to the ED (P = 0.01). Adolescents identified cost, transportation, lack of insurance card, and lack of knowledge as perceived barriers to treatment adherence. Less than half of the participants were interested in school-based health clinics due to anonymity concerns. Most expressed interest in using mobile health (mHealth) to overcome adherence challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents identified multiple barriers to treatment adherence. Future work should explore the role of caregiver communication and incorporation of mHealth.

APA Citation

Sankar, Mathavi G.; Boyle, Meleah D.; Badolato, Gia M.; Tran, Jennifer Q.; Lieberman, Alexandra; and Goyal, Monika K., "The Adolescent Experience of Filling Prescriptions for the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1213.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1213

Department

Pediatrics