Accuracy and Acceptability of Self-Diagnostic Methods for Vaginitis in Adolescent Females

Sponsor
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (NIH)
Overall Status
Unknown status
CT.gov ID
NCT00706368
Collaborator
(none)
300
1
2
42
7.1

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Symptoms of vaginitis are common among adolescent females, although studies have shown that neither experienced clinicians nor patients can accurately diagnose the cause of vaginitis based on symptoms alone. The purpose of this study is to investigate the accuracy and acceptability of self-diagnostic methods for vaginitis in adolescent females.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Device: Point of care tests
N/A

Detailed Description

Vaginal symptoms are common among adolescent females. Vaginal symptoms can result from alterations in the normal flora such as candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis (BV), or from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as trichomonas vaginalis (Tv). However, studies have shown that neither experienced clinicians or patients can accurately diagnose the etiology of vaginitis based on symptoms alone, and the standard evaluation (pelvic examination and wet mount) has limitations.

As an alternative to the standard evaluation, there are several objective, point-of-care tests that can be performed on vaginal secretions, which could be useful in discriminating between the various causes of vaginitis. These include a rapid test for trichomonas vaginalis, a rapid test for bacterial vaginosis, and the vaginal pH and amine test. The aims of this study are to explore the feasibility, accuracy (e.g., correlation, sensitivity, specificity) and acceptability of self-performed versus clinician-performed tests for vaginitis in adolescent females.

Approximately 300 adolescent females will undergo self- and clinician-testing for both STI and non-STI vaginitis. Subjects will be randomized into two groups. Group 1 will perform self-testing for the first half of the study before receiving clinician-testing for the remainder of the study. Group 2 participants will receive clinician-testing for the first half of the study before performing self-testing for the remainder of the study. All participants will have a discussion with the clinician to compare the results of self-performed tests with the results obtained by the clinician. Investigators will assess their acceptance of self- and clinician-testing before testing, after testing, and after the discussion with the clinician.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
300 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Single Group Assignment
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Diagnostic
Official Title:
Taking Charge of my Health: A Trial to Investigate the Accuracy and Acceptability of Self-Diagnostic Methods for Vaginitis in Adolescent Females
Study Start Date :
Apr 1, 2006
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Oct 1, 2009
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Oct 1, 2009

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: 1

Participants in this group will perform self-tests for the first half of the study and will have clinical examinations for the second half of the study

Device: Point of care tests
Several point-of-care tests are offered: OSOM TV rapid trichomonas test; OSOM BV Blue rapid test; pHEMalert vaginal pH test. All subjects receive the OSOM TV test, while the other two are optional.

Experimental: 2

Participants in this group will have clinical examinations for the first half of the study and will perform self-tests for the second half of the study

Device: Point of care tests
Several point-of-care tests are offered: OSOM TV rapid trichomonas test; OSOM BV Blue rapid test; pHEMalert vaginal pH test. All subjects receive the OSOM TV test, while the other two are optional.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Sensitivity of self performed rapid trichomonas tests [Throughout study]

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Acceptability of self testing for trichomonas [Throughout study]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
14 Years to 35 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Yes
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Sexual intercourse in the last 6 months

  • Agree to perform self-testing

  • Agree to pelvic examination

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Have taken antibiotics used to treat vaginal infections in the 2 weeks prior to study entry or have used vaginal creams or medications in the 2 weeks prior to study entry

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati Ohio United States 45229

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jill S Huppert, MD, MPH, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

Responsible Party:
, ,
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00706368
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • K23AI063182
  • K23AI063182
First Posted:
Jun 27, 2008
Last Update Posted:
Jun 27, 2008
Last Verified:
May 1, 2008
Keywords provided by , ,
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Jun 27, 2008