Factors Associated With Consenting to Receive an Automated Email Summary After a Sexual Health Clinic Visit

Abstract

Background Electronic health records allow for inexpensive communication with patients. In March 2021, the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre implemented an automated email summary (“Sexual Health Automated Visit Email” [SHAVE]) of a client's visit. This study evaluates the proportion of attendees at a sexual health service who opted in or out of SHAVE. Methods This study was conducted at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre in Australia between March 2021 and June 2022. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the client characteristics associated with consenting to SHAVE. Results There were 18,528 clients (men, 12,700; women, 5828) included in the final analysis and 55.2% (n = 10,233) consented to receiving SHAVE. Comparing with those who did not have a new sexually transmitted infection diagnosis, clients with a new diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection, but not HIV, had lower odds of consenting to receiving SHAVE (chlamydia: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.64 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.57–0.72]; gonorrhea: aOR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.62–0.82]; syphilis: aOR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.59–0.96]). Men had lower odds of consenting when compared with women (men who have sex with women only: aOR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.71–0.84]; men who have sex with men: aOR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.62–0.75]). Comparing with those born in Australia or Oceania, clients born in Europe had lower odds of consenting (aOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70–0.94), whereas those born in Latin America or Caribbean had higher odds of consenting (aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04–1.51). Conclusions Email summaries may serve as a valuable strategy to improve health communication and record keeping for clients. Understanding the client characteristics associated with consenting SHAVE will allow for the implementation of strategies to better communicate with clients.