Integrated Testing in Health Care Settings

Integrated Testing in Health Care Settings

INTEGRATE has adapted tools and materials initially developed for IC-guided HIV testing to support expanded integrated multiple disease testing for viral hepatitis and STIs in health care settings. The new tools and materials have been developed and piloted in health care settings across Europe and are designed to support the implementation of testing for additional diseases. The pilot sites’ experiences have been written up as country cases for your inspiration:  

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Introducing Indicator Condition guided HIV, HCV and HBV testing in a dermatovenerology clinic

Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos (VULSK)
Lithuania

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Expanding integrated HCV/HIV testing to clients in alcohol dependency treatment

Republican Centre for Addictive Disorders
Lithuania

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Simplified procedures to increase HIV testing at tuberculosis clinic

‘Victor Babes’ Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophtisiology Craiova
Romania

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Implementing routine offer of integrated STI testing in health care settings to people reporting a history of Chemsex

Consorci Institut D’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)
Spain

The new tools and resources developed to support expanded integrated multiple disease testing for viral hepatitis and STIs in health care settings are available here: 

Inform and engage staff

New initiatives that add extra tasks and procedures to an already tight schedule may understandably lead to some resistance from already overstretched staff at health care settings. Information about the scientific rational and potential benefits of multiple disease testing may pave the way for staff engagement. Another way forward is to make sure that relevant clinical guidelines include recommendations to test or the relevant diseases. Here are some ideas and resources to kick-start the process:  

Set up and monitor testing  

Adding new procedures such as indicator guided HIV testing, STI or hepatitis testing requires planning and logistics - whom, when and how to tests, communicate results and link to care as well as the financial foundation - must be addressed. Once the testing for additional diseases is up and running regular feedback to staff on any new positives found can keep the momentum and sustain engagement. Here are some ideas and resources to get this in place: 

Staff training and further activities

After the staff at your service has embraced the integarted testing initiative there is a risk that it “falls of the table” after some time and test rates decline. To support sustainable continuation of the multiple disease testing regular quality checks and staff training sessions are key keep the motivation high and the implementation on track. Some resources to support this are available here:

  • Apply the easy to use quality improvement tool to develop your routine testing praxis: PDSA tool

  • Encourage staff to sign up for a free 12-module online course on clinical, epidemiological and public health aspect of integarted testing presented by leading European experts Public Health online learning module

  • Attend webinars where testing experts debate new approaches and the latest recommendations from ECDC and others: Watch webinars here
     

Indicator guided HIV testing


Read more about indicator guided HIV testing here.