Health Technology Assessment

The introduction of a mobile phone self-testing and on-line clinical pathway for STIs (eSTI²) may impact in a complex manner on test uptake rates, partner notifications and treatment completions. Test accuracy will also affect the level of missed cases and over-treatment, influencing longer-term health outcomes and NHS costs.

Early-health technology assessment is being undertaken to evaluate the likely cost-effectiveness and broader social & ethical implications of eSTI².

Research outputs will include:-

• A health technology assessment framework and evidence requirements for evaluation of eSTI² testing and treatment.
• Identification of key organisational barriers and enablers to successful NHS adoption.
• Assessment of the cost-effectiveness of introducing eSTI² for Chlamydia screening in different mainstream NHS practice scenarios.
• Valuation of attributes which influence young people’s preferences for an eSTI² service (discrete choice experiment.)