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EDITORIAL

Digital technology and self-care in sexual health

Jason J. Ong https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5784-7403 A B * and Joseph D. Tucker https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2804-1181 B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

B Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

C Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NR, USA.

* Correspondence to: Jason.Ong@monash.edu

Handling Editor: Michael Marks

Sexual Health 21, SH24174 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH24174
Submitted: 2 September 2024  Accepted: 6 September 2024  Published: 13 September 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

This Collection highlights some recent publications in Sexual Health on using technology to optimise sexual health. By leveraging innovations such as rapid diagnostic tools, mobile health (mHealth), self-testing and artificial-intelligence-powered tools, we can empower individuals to take control of their sexual health, reducing risks and enhancing accessibility.

Keywords: digital technology, HIV, self-care, sexual health, sexual health services, testing.

References

Munro T, Anderson-Smith B, Lu H, Worth HH, Knight V. Online triage tool improves the efficiency of a sexual health service. Sex Health 2021; 18(5): 432-435.
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Nadarzynski T, Knights N, Husbands D, et al. The impact of Chatbot-Assisted Self Assessment (CASA) on intentions for sexual health screening in people from minoritised ethnic groups at risk of sexually transmitted infections. Sex Health 2024; 21: SH24058.
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Tan RKJ, Perera D, Arasaratnam S, Kularathne Y. Adapting an artificial intelligence sexually transmitted diseases symptom checker tool for Mpox detection: the HeHealth experience. Sex Health 2024; 21: SH23197.
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Goldstein M, Sturek C, Boedeker D, Shvartsman K. The PrEP resource: a mobile app for clinicians to facilitate screening, prescription and follow up of pre-exposure prophylaxis in the prevention of HIV. Sex Health 2024; 21: SH24106.
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Kocur W, McLeod J, Bloch SCM, et al. Improving digital partner notification for sexually transmitted infections and HIV through a systematic review and application of the Behaviour Change Wheel approach. Sex Health 2024; 21: SH23168.
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Dawson AC, Fitzpatrick AK, Matthews JM, Nguyen AAK, Papanaoum K, Smith JR. Characterisation of social media conversations on syphilis: an unobtrusive observational study. Sex Health 2024; 21: SH23114.
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World Health Organization. Updated recommendations for the treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Treponema pallidum (syphilis) and new recommendations on syphilis testing and partner services. 2024. Available at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240090767 [accessed 21 August 2024]

United States Food & Drug Administration. FDA marketing authorization enables increased access to first step of syphilis diagnosis. 2024. Available at https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-marketing-authorization-enables-increased-access-first-step-syphilis-diagnosis [accessed 21 August 2024]

Towns JM, Tieosapjaroen W, Mello MB, et al. The role of syphilis self-testing as an additional syphilis testing approach in key populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Public Health 2023; 8(9): e726-e734.
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10  Tran A, Tran N, Tapa J, et al. A typology of HIV self-testing support systems: a scoping review. Sex Health 2024; 21: SH24037.
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11  Ong JJ, Bourne C, Dean JA, et al. Australian sexually transmitted infection (STI) management guidelines for use in primary care 2022 update. Sex Health 2023; 20(1): 1-8.
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12  Foster R, Vickers T, Lu H, McNulty A. Chlamydia home sampling in the real world: a cross-sectional analysis. Sex Health 2022; 19(5): 479-483.
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13  Smith KS, Hocking JS, Chen MY, et al. Dual intervention to increase chlamydia retesting: a randomized controlled trial in three populations. Am J Prev Med 2015; 49(1): 1-11.
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14  Zammit CM, Brooks A, Brotherton JML, Nightingale CE. What young women (aged 24-29 years) in Australia think about self-collection for cervical screening: a brief report. Sex Health 2024; 21: SH24033.
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15  Lafferty L, Rautenbach C, McNulty A, et al. Client and staff perceptions of acceptability of MyCheck: a direct-to-pathology telehealth and e-testing service for comprehensive bloodborne virus and sexually transmissible infection screening. Sex Health 2024; 21: SH23194.
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