Expert Interviews on Multilevel Barriers in Implementing Expedited Partner Therapy for Chlamydia.

Expedited partner therapy (EPT) is an evidence-based practice in which partners of patients with chlamydia are given antibiotics or a prescription for antibiotics without prior medical evaluation. This practice facilitates partner treatment and prevents reinfection of the patient. EPT remains underutilized due to multilevel implementation barriers. Barriers may exist at the level of legislation, policy, health care system, health care provider (HCP), pharmacist, patient, or partner. Qualitative interviews were performed with 11 EPT experts across the United States to uncover barriers in implementation. Thirty-four barriers were identified and grouped into 1 of 15 themes. The themes that surfaced most frequently were liability and adverse events (policy and HCP level), funding (policy level), electronic medical records (health care system level), and awareness (HCP and pharmacy level). Tailored implementation strategies are needed to increase awareness among HCPs and pharmacists, to establish funding and to streamline processes in health care systems.