A self-testing kits distribution intervention improved HIV testing of men who have sex with men and their sexual partners: a 12-month stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial in China (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Jin ◽  
Zhenxing Chu ◽  
Xiangjun Zhang ◽  
Tianyi Lu ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Control Stage ◽  
Testing Frequency ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Testing Coverage

BACKGROUND Men who have sex with men (MSM) have high HIV incidence and prevalence burdens but relatively low HIV testing rates. Literature showed insufficient evidence on the efficacy of Social media (WeChat) based HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits distribution approaches among MSM and their sexual partners. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated an Social media (WeChat) based HIVST distribution intervention in increasing HIV testing uptake among MSM and their sexual partners in China. METHODS The study used a 12-month stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial design and an online survey mode. MSM who were HIV-negative or with unknown HIV status were recruited through social media marketing and outreaches by community opinion leaders between August and December 2018 in Shenyang, Beijing, Chongqing, and Shenzhen. Participants were randomly allocated to four groups, which were intervened by sequence. The intervention group received free HIVST kits on top of the control condition that participants received standard education and care. Participants were followed up from January to December 2019. Generalized linear models were used to assess HIV testing coverage and frequency difference between the intervention and the control stage. RESULTS Each group enrolled 140 eligible MSM with a total of 560 participants. Twelve participants were diagnosed with HIV infections, and 4 of them were in the follow-up period. Participants in the intervention stage were nine times likely to receive an HIV test than in the control stage (85.6% vs. 39.2%, risk ratio [RR]=9.21, 95%CI 5.92~14.33). The intervention also increased participants’ HIV testing frequency (1.48 vs. 0.59 times, risk difference [RD]=0.89, 95%CI 0.82~0.96). Moreover, the intervention increased HIV testing proportion (49.0% vs. 30.1%, RR=2.23, 95%CI 1.46~3.40) and mean HIV testing frequency (0.69 vs. 0.35 times, RD=0.26, 95%CI 0.15~0.38) among participants sexual partners who received HIVST through secondary distribution. CONCLUSIONS An Social media (WeChat) based HIVST distribution intervention effectively increased HIV testing coverage and frequency in MSM and their sexual partners. Future programs could apply this approach in HIV education and testing efforts to reduce HIV incidence. CLINICALTRIAL This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials website (http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx) with the registration tracking number of ChiCTR1800019453 on November 12, 2018. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/17788

scholarly journals HIV Self-Testing to Promote Serostatus Disclosure Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China: Protocol for a Stepped Wedge Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianyi Lu ◽  
Hang Li ◽  
Xiang Mao ◽  
Erlei Peng ◽  
Yangyang Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Serostatus Disclosure ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Hiv Serostatus ◽  
Sex With Men

BACKGROUND Disclosure of HIV serostatus is important for the prevention of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, knowledge of sexual partners’ HIV status among MSM in China is low. As a complement to HIV testing services, HIV self-testing (HIVST) has considerable potential to promote serostatus disclosure. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of our trial is to evaluate the effect of HIVST on improving serostatus disclosure to sexual partners. We hypothesize that MSM in an intervention condition will have a higher awareness of the HIV status of their sexual partners compared with MSM in the control condition. The secondary aims are to evaluate (i) changes in sexual behaviors after disclosure of HIV status by sexual partners, (ii) promotion of the frequency of HIV and syphilis testing on participants and their sexual partners, and (iii) factors that restrict the disclosure of HIV infection to sexual partners. We hypothesize that MSM in the intervention condition will exhibit safer sexual decision making and a higher rate of HIV testing uptake compared with MSM in the control condition. METHODS A stepped wedge randomized controlled trial will be conducted throughout China. Study recruitment of 800 MSM will be promoted through advertisements released on WeChat public accounts. Individuals who are born biologically male, aged ≥18 years, HIV negative, and who have not undergone HIV testing in the past 3 months will be recruited. Eligible men will be randomly divided (1:1:1:1) into four groups and randomized. The group cluster will initiate the intervention so that participants will be provided with 2-4 free finger prick–based HIVST kits until trial completion. The intervention period for participants in each of the four groups will be initiated at 3-month intervals. Men in both groups will be required to complete a baseline and four follow-up surveys every 3 months. The primary intervention outcome will evaluate the effect of the distribution of HIVST kits on improvement in the disclosure of sexual partners’ HIV status. The secondary outcomes will be changes in sexual behaviors after disclosure of HIV status from sexual partners, the promotion of the frequency of HIVST on participants and their sexual partners, and the factors that restrict disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners. RESULTS Subject recruitment began in August 2018. The first round of follow-up surveys post intervention is complete, with three rounds remaining to be done. Data analysis was scheduled for April 2020 and the results will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed publications. CONCLUSIONS Few studies have evaluated interventions to increase knowledge of sexual partners’ HIV status among MSM. Our trial will provide information on the link between HIVST and HIV serostatus disclosure. The findings of this trial will facilitate the implementation of HIVST services to help control the spread of HIV among MSM in China. CLINICALTRIAL Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800019453; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=30158 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/17788

scholarly journals Impact of providing free HIV self-testing kits on frequency of testing among men who have sex with men and their sexual partners in China: A randomized controlled trial

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. e1003365
Author(s):  
Ci Zhang ◽  
Deborah Koniak-Griffin ◽  
Han-Zhu Qian ◽  
Lloyd A. Goldsamt ◽  
Honghong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Sex With Men

scholarly journals Sustaining success: a qualitative study of gay and bisexual men’s experiences and perceptions of HIV self-testing in a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Zhang ◽  
Rebecca J. Guy ◽  
Kirsty S. Smith ◽  
Muhammad S. Jamil ◽  
Garrett Prestage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Testing Frequency ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
The Future ◽  
And Bisexual

Abstract Background HIV self-testing was proved as an effective tool for increasing testing frequency in gay and bisexual men at high risk of infection. Questions remain about understanding why HIVST encouraged testing and how such success can be translated to programmatic implementation. Methods We conducted a qualitative investigation of how FORTH participants experienced and perceived HIVST. Stratified sampling was used to recruit gay and bisexual men participating in the FORTH HIVST intervention to take part in interviews, focusing on infrequent testers and those who had received inaccurate HIVST results. Results Our analysis identified several prominent themes organized into two overarching domains from the 15 interviews: (i) aspects of HIVST contributing to HIV testing frequency, and (ii) sustaining HIVST into the future. Participants also believed that their use of HIVST in the future would depend on the test kit’s reliability, particularly when compared with highly reliable clinic-based testing. Conclusion HIVST increases the frequency of HIV testing among gay and bisexual men due, in part, to the practical, psychological, and social benefits it offers. To capitalize fully on these benefits, however, strategies to ensure the availability of highly reliable HIVST are required to sustain benefits beyond the confines of a structured research study.

scholarly journals HIV Self-Testing to Promote Serostatus Disclosure Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China: Protocol for a Stepped Wedge Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/17788 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e17788
Author(s):  
Tianyi Lu ◽  
Hang Li ◽  
Xiang Mao ◽  
Erlei Peng ◽  
Yangyang Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Serostatus Disclosure ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Hiv Serostatus ◽  
Sex With Men

Background Disclosure of HIV serostatus is important for the prevention of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, knowledge of sexual partners’ HIV status among MSM in China is low. As a complement to HIV testing services, HIV self-testing (HIVST) has considerable potential to promote serostatus disclosure. Objective The primary objective of our trial is to evaluate the effect of HIVST on improving serostatus disclosure to sexual partners. We hypothesize that MSM in an intervention condition will have a higher awareness of the HIV status of their sexual partners compared with MSM in the control condition. The secondary aims are to evaluate (i) changes in sexual behaviors after disclosure of HIV status by sexual partners, (ii) promotion of the frequency of HIV and syphilis testing on participants and their sexual partners, and (iii) factors that restrict the disclosure of HIV infection to sexual partners. We hypothesize that MSM in the intervention condition will exhibit safer sexual decision making and a higher rate of HIV testing uptake compared with MSM in the control condition. Methods A stepped wedge randomized controlled trial will be conducted throughout China. Study recruitment of 800 MSM will be promoted through advertisements released on WeChat public accounts. Individuals who are born biologically male, aged ≥18 years, HIV negative, and who have not undergone HIV testing in the past 3 months will be recruited. Eligible men will be randomly divided (1:1:1:1) into four groups and randomized. The group cluster will initiate the intervention so that participants will be provided with 2-4 free finger prick–based HIVST kits until trial completion. The intervention period for participants in each of the four groups will be initiated at 3-month intervals. Men in both groups will be required to complete a baseline and four follow-up surveys every 3 months. The primary intervention outcome will evaluate the effect of the distribution of HIVST kits on improvement in the disclosure of sexual partners’ HIV status. The secondary outcomes will be changes in sexual behaviors after disclosure of HIV status from sexual partners, the promotion of the frequency of HIVST on participants and their sexual partners, and the factors that restrict disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners. Results Subject recruitment began in August 2018. The first round of follow-up surveys post intervention is complete, with three rounds remaining to be done. Data analysis was scheduled for April 2020 and the results will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed publications. Conclusions Few studies have evaluated interventions to increase knowledge of sexual partners’ HIV status among MSM. Our trial will provide information on the link between HIVST and HIV serostatus disclosure. The findings of this trial will facilitate the implementation of HIVST services to help control the spread of HIV among MSM in China. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800019453; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=30158 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/17788

scholarly journals Effectiveness of self-testing kits availability on improving HIV testing frequency for chinese men who have sex with men and their sexual partners: a protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e024423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ci Zhang ◽  
Xianhong Li ◽  
Deborah Koniak-Griffin ◽  
Lloyd A. Goldsamt ◽  
Jing Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Hiv Testing Services ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionHIV epidemic is increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, yet HIV testing uptake remains low. As an emerging approach, HIV self-testing (HIVST) has the potential to promote HIV testing coverage and frequency in this population. However, evidence of the effectiveness on implementation of HIVST among Chinese MSM and their sexual partners is scarce.Methods and analysisThe randomised controlled trial will be performed in Changsha, Changde, Shaoyang and Yiyang, Hunan province, China, recruiting 184 recent testers (men who had at least one HIV test within the past 2 years) and 26 non-recent testers (men who did not have HIV tests within 2 years or never had an HIV test). Eligible men will be randomly divided 1:1 into two groups: intervention (with free HIVST kits plus site-based HIV testing services) and control (site-based HIV testing services only). Participants in the intervention group will be provided with two free finger-prick-based HIVST kits, and can apply for two to four kits every 3 months for 1 year.Participants in both groups will complete questionnaires via WeChat at five separate times: baseline, third, sixth, ninth and twelfth month. The primary outcome is the mean number of HIV tests for MSM over the 12-month study period. The secondary outcome is the mean number of HIV tests for sexual partners of MSM over the 12-month study period. The tertiary outcomes are the self-reported proportion of consistent condom usage for anal sex, and the numbers of sexual partners during the 12-month study period.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Behavioural and Nursing Research in Xiangya School of Nursing of Central South University, China (2018002). Study results will be disseminated through conferences and academic journals.Trial registration numberChiCTR1800015584; Pre-results.

Feasibility of Indirect Secondary Distribution of HIV Self-Test Kits via WeChat Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: A National Cross-Sectional Study in China (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Shangcao ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Xiang Mao ◽  
Tianyi Lu ◽  
Yangyang Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Condomless Anal Intercourse ◽  
Secondary Distribution ◽  
Self Test ◽  
Sex With Men

BACKGROUND The use of HIV self-test (HST) kits is commonplace in key sexually active populations. The direct secondary distribution of HST kits (DSDHK) is effective in improving the uptake of HIV self-testing. However, there are concerns about various limitations of DSDHK, including limited geographic location, payment problems, and face-to-face interaction. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the feasibility and characteristics of the indirect secondary distribution of HST kits (ISDHK) via WeChat (distributing HST application links and follow-up HST kits to partners) among men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS From October 2017 to September 2019, an HIV self-testing (HIVST) recruitment advertisement was disseminated on the WeChat social media platform to invite MSM to apply for HST kits (referred to as “index participants” [Ips]). All of the MSM participants were encouraged to distribute the HST application link to their friends and sexual partners (referred to as “Alters”) through their social networks. All Alters were further encouraged to continue to distribute the HST application link. All participants paid a deposit (USD 7), refundable upon completion of the questionnaire and uploading of the test result via an online survey system. RESULTS 2,263 MSM met the criteria and successfully applied for HST. Of these, 1,816 participants returned their HST test results, including 1,422 (88.3%) IPs and 394 (21.7%) Alters. Compared with the IPs, the Alters practiced more condomless anal intercourse (CAI), a higher proportion of them never previously had an HIV test, and they had a greater willingness to distribute HST kits to sexual partners (all p < 0.05). After controlling for age, education, and income, the Alters had a greater proportion of MSM who had never tested for HIV before (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.00–1.68), were more willing to distribute the HST application link (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.21–2.40), had a lower number of sexual partners (aOR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.57–0.90), and were less likely to search for sexual partners via online means (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.60–1.02). In comparison, the rates of reactive HST results, conducting HIV confirmatory tests, HIV seropositivity, and initiation of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) were similar for IPs and Alters. CONCLUSIONS The ISDHK mode of distributing HST application links via social media is feasible among the MSM population. The ISDHK mode should be used to supplement the DSDHK mode in order to enable a greater proportion of the MSM population to know their HIV infection status.

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