What to know
The Sexually Transmitted Infection Cost Saved (STIC Figure) 2.0 tool calculates the number of infections and other adverse health outcomes averted and costs saved as a result of STI prevention program activities. This page provides more information about the tool and how to use it.
What is STIC Figure 2.0?
STIC Figure 2.0 is a spreadsheet tool to estimate the impact of STI and HIV prevention activities, including activities of state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) health departments. The tool’s audience includes STLT health department staff, STI and HIV clinic managers, other practitioners, researchers, and others interested in estimating the benefits of STI and HIV prevention activities. Possible uses of the tool include preparing fact sheets or presentations about the benefit of STI and HIV prevention activities by public health agencies, demonstrating the economic value of STI and HIV prevention, and informing internal and external audiences about the impact of STI and HIV prevention work.
How do you use it?
Download and save the spreadsheet to your computer. When ready to use the spreadsheet, open the saved version, and you will be prompted to enable macros. Enter information about your jurisdiction in the spreadsheet then review your results.
The “Edit output here” tab allows you to explore the output in more detail, create a customized chart and table with your desired information, and export to another document.
STIC Figure 2.0 comes with a User Guide to walk you through the process of inputting program data, calculating outcomes, customizing output, and exporting visualizations.
Is there a way to share the tool's output?
Yes, STIC Figure 2.0 allows you to export the chart and table into another application, such as a Word document or PowerPoint presentation. See the User Guide for detailed instructions.
How to explain the tool to audiences?
STIC Figure 2.0’s output is presented as a breakdown of the infections and other adverse health outcomes averted, and associated costs saved, as a result of the activities of STI programs. The paragraph below offers an explanation about the calculations behind these outputs to make it easier for you to interpret the results and communicate findings to your audience.
The STIC Figure 2.0 tool (STIC = Sexually Transmitted Infection Costs) calculates the number of infections and other health outcomes averted, and the associated savings in direct medical costs and productivity costs, by STI program activities. It uses the most recent peer-reviewed scientific evidence on the benefits of treating chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis; providing access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis; and linking persons with HIV to medical care. Benefits include STIs averted, HIV infections averted, preventing sequalae such as pelvic inflammatory disease and epididymitis, congenital syphilis cases averted, direct medical costs saved, and productivity costs saved.
The calculations of STIC Figure 2.0 are based on the most recent scientific evidence available. For the complete list of references and a more detailed description of the calculations, see the associated manuscript and appendix.