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Table 1 Final coding categories

From: How online sexual health services could work; generating theory to support development

Coding category

Sub-codes

Link to theory of change diagram

Changing user-provider relationships

• User empowerment/disempowerment

• New opportunities for technology mediated support

• Creating expectations of an online retail service within public sector

• Loss of face to face contact

• Changes in user options and responsibilities

• Expectations of provider driven, technology mediated contact

• Targeting the online service beyond the autonomous consumer

Impact on clinics

• Change to clinic systems

• Changes to interaction between sexual health services

• Changes to clinic staffing

• New patterns of service use

• Changes in clinic processes, staff training

• Potential for linking development of clinic based and online services

Impact on STIs at population level

• Increased STI testing

• Changes in sexual behaviour

• Changes in access to sexual health promotion

• Changes in access to services between different population groups

• Reduced STI transmission in the population

Changes in cost of service provision across the whole sexual health economy

• Changes in cost per test

• Changes in demand triggered by online service including creation of inappropriate demand

• Movement between services/dual use

• Changes to clinic capacity

• More cost effective sexual health services