Patient-delivered partner medication in the UK: an unlawful but popular choice

Abstract

Current methods of contact tracing are only partially effective. Patient-delivered partner medication (PDPM), in which patients are dispensed antibiotics for their sexual partner(s), has been shown to reduce persistent and recurrent infections. We performed a questionnaire to canvass opinions of UK staff and patients about PDPM. The response rate was 72% (88/122) for staff and 90% (473/525) for patients. The majority of staff (81%) thought that PDPM would be acceptable to patients, and should be combined with written information and a recommendation to attend a clinic. Patients were mostly (59%) in favour of PDPM, 87% thought it would make it easier to abstain from sex during treatment, and 94% indicated that after being given antibiotics by a partner, they would attend a clinic for tests. Concerns expressed by staff and patients included drug allergies, potential lack of information provided to partners, management of complicated infection, pregnancy and medicolegal implications.