Online postal self-sampling - ASSISTing better sexual health delivery?

The ASSIST Symposium brings together researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community representatives to discuss the findings and implications of the ASSIST project. This initiative aims to assess the impact of online postal self-sampling for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on health inequalities, access to care, and clinical and economics outcomes within the UK.

The findings from the ASSIST project will guide future service planning and may aid in the development of similar public health services. The goal is to ensure that sexual health services are equitable, effective, and sustainable.

The event will be held in the Franks and Steel room, Wellcome Collection building, Euston Road.

Event programme

13:30 - Arrival – tea, coffee

13:45 - Welcome and introduction – Fiona Burns & Jo Gibbs

13:55 - Impact evaluation: quantitative data – Jo Gibbs, Alison Howarth, Oliver Stirrup

14:15 – Impact evaluation: qualitative data – Tommer Spence

14:25 – Questions

14:35 – Break – tea, coffee, biscuits

14:55 – Economic evaluation – Louise Jackson

15:10 – Implementation evaluation – Jessica Sheringham

15:30 – Realist evaluation – Geoff Wong & Jessica Sheringham

15:50 – Findings in context 1: Graham Hart. Findings in context 2: Kate Folkard

16:00 - Panel discussion – Graham Hart, Kate Folkard, Jo Gibbs, Fiona Burns, Jessica Sheringham

16:30 – Thank you and closing remarks – Fiona Burns & Jo Gibbs

16:35 – Drinks and snacks

Speaker profiles

Fiona Burns (UCL)

Professor Fiona Burns is Professor of Epidemiology & HIV in the Institute for Global Health, UCL. Her research interests include the social, behavioural and clinical dimensions of HIV/STI epidemiology. Her research focuses on health care access, social inequalities, and migration and health. Fiona is the Co-Chief Investigator on ASSIST.

Jo Gibbs (UCL)

Dr Jo Gibbs is a clinical consultant in sexual health/HIV at UCL’s Institute for Global Health and Co-Chief Investigator on ASSIST. Jo’s work focuses on bridging the gap between academic and clinical care by focussing on the translation of research into practice.

Alison Howarth (UCL)

Dr Alison Howarth is a Senior Research Associate at UCL’s Institute for Global Health. She is a mixed methods researcher with experience of working on various projects in the field of sexual health and HIV. Alison is Project Manager for ASSIST.

Oliver Stirrup (UCL)

Dr Oliver Stirrup is a Senior Research Fellow at UCL’s Institute for Global Health. Oliver works on observational studies and cluster trials in infectious diseases, particularly in the field of HIV and sexual health, and COVID-19. Oliver is the Statistician for ASSIST.

Tommer Spence (UCL)

Dr Tommer Spence is a Qualitative Research Fellow at UCL’s Institute for Global Health with an interest in sexual, digital and public health. He is the Qualitative Research for ASSIST.

Louise Jackson (University of Birmingham)

Dr Louise Jackson is an Associate Professor in the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham. Louise’s work focuses on the evaluation of interventions and services in sexual health, maternal health, and public health. Louise is a Co-Investigator on ASSIST and leads on the economic evaluation.

Dr Jessica Sheringham (UCL)

Dr Jessica Sheringham is a Senior Research Fellow Honorary Consultant in Public Health at UCL. Jessica works closely with local authority and NHS partners to identify research priorities and carry our research and to build public health research capacity. Jessica is Co-Investigator on ASSIST and leads on the implementation evaluation.

Geoff Wong (University of Oxford)

Dr Geoff Wong is an Associate Professor of Primary Care in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Services at the University of Oxford. He is an expert in realist synthesis and evaluation for comlex health and sociaal interventions. Geoff is a Co-Investigator on ASSIST and leads on the realist evaluation.

Graham Hart (UCL)

Professor Graham Hart is Professor of Sexual Health & HIV Research at University College London and Co-Director of UCL Health of the Public. He is a member of the ASSIST Study Steering Committee.

Kate Folkard (UKHSA)

Kate Folkard is the Head of Programme Delivery and Service Improvement at the UK Health Security Agency. She has extensive experience across local and national goverment, health and third sector.

Host or Publisher UCL Institute for Global Health