Relative or absolute? A significant intervention for chlamydia screening with small absolute benefit

摘要

"This complex intervention within the English chlamydia screening programme led to a 76% increase in chlamydia screening test rates across all practices offered the intervention, with a 40% increase in infections detected."1 Thus begins the Discussion section of the article by McNulty, et al in this edition of Sexually Transmitted Infections. On the surface, the finding appears dramatic, offering hope for a major advance in the coverage of screening for chlamydial infection under the UK's National Chlamydia Screening Programme. Look a little deeper, however, and chlamydia screening clearly remains a major challenge.