{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]],"date-time":"2026-06-19T06:14:15Z","timestamp":1781849655022,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,29]],"date-time":"2020-12-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1609200000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":28,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title><jats:p>In Sweden, an increasing number of tests for sexually transmitted infections are conducted. Self-sampling services are provided free of charge at the national eHealth website. Our aim was to obtain a deeper understanding of users\u2019 beliefs and experiences of <jats:italic>Chlamydia trachomatis<\/jats:italic> (CT) and <jats:italic>Neisseria gonorrhoeae<\/jats:italic> (NG) self-sampling services.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This qualitative study is part of the national project \u2018Internet-based chlamydia and gonorrhoea self-sampling test\u2019, conducted in Sweden. Individuals ordering a CT\/NG self-sampling test at home from the eHealth website were invited to participate. Of the 114 individuals who agreed, a purposeful sample including 20 women and men aged 18\u201349 years (mean, 30.8 years) participated in a telephone interview in 2019.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The test service for CT\/NG was highly appreciated by men and women of different ages. Round-the-clock accessibility, avoiding clinical visits, ease of use, confidentiality and a rapid test result were reasons for this appreciation. Language, uncertainty about the correct sampling procedure, unreliable postal services and concerns about handling of personal data were mentioned as barriers. Reasons for testing were checking after unprotected sex, symptoms, checking a partner\u2019s fidelity or a regular routine\u2014\u2018to be on the safe side\u2019. Knowledge about the infections and their consequences was limited; some considered them severe, especially if they could threaten fertility, and others were less concerned. Disclosing an infection was described as emotionally stressful. Participants had high self-efficacy in relation to the test and would not hesitate to use the service again, even if it involved a cost.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Internet-based CT\/NG self-sampling at home was highly appreciated and was used for individual health reasons, but also out of concern for others\u2019 health and for society as a whole. The benefits seem to outweigh the barriers, and the service may therefore continue to be widely offered.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-041340","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,29]],"date-time":"2020-12-29T17:12:11Z","timestamp":1609261931000},"page":"e041340","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["\u2018To be on the safe side\u2019: a qualitative study regarding users\u2019 beliefs and experiences of internet-based self-sampling for <i>Chlamydia trachomatis<\/i> and <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae<\/i> testing"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4553-6656","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Grandahl","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Margareta","family":"Larsson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bj\u00f6rn","family":"Herrmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-13-790"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-016-3408-z"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-12-1095"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.4","unstructured":"WHO . Global health sector strategy on sexually transmitted infections, 2016\u20132021. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2016. http:\/\/www.who. int\/reproductivehealth\/publications\/rtis\/ghss-stis\/en\/"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.313.7066.1186"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sti.2005.016832"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.7","article-title":"Home-based versus clinic-based specimen collection in the management of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections","volume":"316","author":"Fajardo-Bernal","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.8","unstructured":"National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) . Information, data, guidance and resources about the NCSP. Available: www. gov.uk\/government\/collections\/ nationalchlamydia-screening-programme-ncsp [Accessed 14 Apr 2020]."},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.9","unstructured":"Queensland Government Home Sexual Health . Available: https:\/\/www.qld.gov.au\/ health\/staying-healthy\/sexual-health\/chlamydia-test [Accessed 14 Apr 2020]."},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2019-054256"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1258\/ijsa.2011.011030"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Paudyal P , Llewellyn C , Lau J , et al . Obtaining self-samples to diagnose curable sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review of patients\u2019 experiences. PLoS One 2015;10:e0124310. doi:10.1371\/journal.pone.0124310","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0124310"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2340\/00015555-3677","article-title":"Users\u2019 opinions of internet-based self-sampling tests for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Sweden","volume":"100","author":"Grandahl","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Derm Venereol"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000000388"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732315617444"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1794","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2018.1551670","article-title":"\u2018I also want to be vaccinated!\u2019 - adolescent boys\u2019 awareness and thoughts, perceived benefits, information sources, and intention to be vaccinated against Human papillomavirus (HPV)","volume":"15","author":"Grandahl","year":"2019","journal-title":"Hum Vaccin Immunother"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.18","unstructured":"Champion VL , Skinner Sugg C . The health belief model. In: Glantz K , Rimer B , Viswanath K , eds. Health behavior and health education: theory, research and practice. 4th edn. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008."},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.20","unstructured":"Op de Coul EL , G\u00f6tz HM , van Bergen JE . Who participates in the Dutch chlamydia screening? A study on demographic and behavioral correlates of participation and positivity. BMC Public Health 2006;1:221."},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2017-053302"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1071\/SH10094","article-title":"Men\u2019s attitudes towards chlamydia screening: a narrative review","volume":"9","author":"Balfe","year":"2012","journal-title":"Sex Health"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-6-221"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.322.7280.195"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3109\/13625187.2010.549253"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.2628"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.27","first-page":"1","article-title":"Friends over doctors? The influences of source and perceived customization on College drinking","volume":"39","author":"Niu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Commun"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"378","DOI":"10.1071\/SH16076","article-title":"Association between sexually transmissible infection testing, numbers of partners and talking to partners and friends about sexual health: survey of young adults","volume":"14","author":"Hendry","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sex Health"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2017-053318"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ypmed.2018.08.007"},{"key":"2021092808251337000_10.12.e041340.31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/OLQ.0000000000000234"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-041340","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,28]],"date-time":"2021-09-28T18:18:31Z","timestamp":1632853111000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-041340"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,29]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-041340"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-041340","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]}}}