Table 1 Survey items evaluating PNS programs in New England

STD epidemiology

Publicly available state surveillance data for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea

PNS program structure

1. What is the number of jurisdictions, districts or health departments in the state?

2. Do PNS protocols differ among jurisdictions?

3. In what jurisdictions are the DIS located?

4. Do you have a PNS program for HIV and/or other STDs?

5. Are partner notification services for HIV and for STDs considered part of the same program?

6. Please offer a brief description of the PNS program(s) your state provides.

7. Do PNS services cover the entire state, or just urban centers, certain health jurisdictions, or particular counties?

8. Do you have a state STD clinic? If so, how many?

9. Are these STD clinics able to bill insurance companies?

10. Do these clinics offer free testing and treatment?

11. Where do you refer people for HIV/STD testing?

12. What is the time frame for reporting infections to the department of health?

DIS officer roles

1. What additional services do the DIS provide?

2. Do DIS who participate in PNS receive specialized training in addition to the national training? If so, how are they trained?

3. How many DIS officers currently participate in PNS in total (for both HIV and other STDs)?

4. How many DIS officers currently participate in PNS for HIV? For STDs?

5. Are there any DIS officers who are based at clinics or settings other than the department of health?

6. Do the DIS work directly with surveillance staff to obtain names of index cases to contact?

PNS methodology

1. Do you provide PNS for [HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia]?

2. If not, why don’t you provide PNS for [HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia]?

3. If yes, which [HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia] positive index cases are contacted by PNS?

4. Do you attempt to contact all reported partners who have contact information?

5. Is there a designated/goal time to interview index cases about partners for [HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia]?

6. Do you employ the following notification for [HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia], and if so, how often: Index patient tells partner, index patient tells partner within time constraint, DIS notifies partner, dual notification, third-party notification, notification via e-mail, notification via text message, notification via hook-up apps or websites, notification via Facebook

7. What do you say in your first message to an index case?

8. How do you typically attempt to reach the partners?

9. Are contacts educated in any way about PrEP? PEP?

10. Are contacts referred in any way for PrEP? PEP?

Barriers to PNS provision

1. For HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia: What challenges do you face when it comes to successfully notifying partners and getting them tested and in care?