An Online Intervention Promoting HIV Testing Service Utilization Among Chinese men who have sex with men During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A quasi-experimental Study

Wang, Zixin; Chan, Paul; Xin, Meiqi; Fang, Yuan; Chidgey, Andrew; Yu, Fuk-yuen; Ip, Mary; Chen, Siyu; Mo, Phoenix K. H.

doi:10.1007/s10461-023-04100-5

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Accordingly, a lack of awareness of the HIV epidemic in students among MSM may result in a low HIV testing rate. The internet and smartphones are essential tools for the student population, and a previous study showed that HIV intervention and testing through internet-based platforms or gay apps could increase HIV testing among younger MSM [ 24 , 30 , 31 ]. We suggest that strengthening awareness of the HIV epidemic among students and enhancing HIV testing education through internet-based platforms or gay apps will increase the HIV testing proportion of MSM students.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining HIV Testing Coverage and Factors Influencing First-Time Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Zhejiang Province, China: Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Large Internet Survey

He,

Jiang,

Chen

et al. 2024

JMIR Public Health Surveill

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) constitute a significant population of patients infected with HIV. In recent years, several efforts have been made to promote HIV testing among MSM in China. Objective This study aimed to assess HIV testing coverage and factors associated with first-time HIV testing among MSM to provide a scientific basis for achieving the goal of diagnosing 95% of patients infected with HIV by 2030. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2023 and December 2023. MSM were recruited from the “Sunshine Test,” an internet platform that uses location-based services to offer free HIV testing services to MSM by visiting the WeChat official account in Zhejiang Province, China. Participants were required to complete a questionnaire on their demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, substance use, and HIV testing history. A logistic regression model was used to analyze first-time HIV testing and its associated factors. Results A total of 7629 MSM participated in the study, with 87.1% (6647) having undergone HIV testing before and 12.9% (982) undergoing HIV testing for the first time. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that first-time HIV testing was associated with younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.55, 95% CI 1.91-3.42), lower education (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.03-1.88), student status (aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.75), low income (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.16-2.08), insertive anal sex role (aOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.05-1.56), bisexuality (aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.40-2.03), fewer sex partners (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.13-1.83), use of rush poppers (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.70-2.49), unknown HIV status of sex partners (aOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.17-1.69), lack of awareness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.03-1.88), and offline HIV testing uptake (aOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.80-2.41). Conclusions A notable 12.9% (982/7629) of MSM had never undergone HIV testing before this large internet survey. We recommend enhancing HIV intervention and testing through internet-based platforms and gay apps to promote testing among MSM and achieve the target of diagnosing 95% of patients infected with HIV by 2030.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining HIV Testing Coverage and Factors Influencing First-Time Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Zhejiang Province, China: Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Large Internet Survey

He,

Jiang,

Chen

et al. 2024

JMIR Public Health Surveill

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Across countries, health authorities have been actively promoting HIVST to mitigate such negative impacts [ 29 - 31 ]. As a result, there was an increase in HIVST use among MSM [ 11 ]. Such growth may continue even in the postpandemic era.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the availability of HIVST kits in Hong Kong was not affected by the pandemic. An increasing demand for HIVST among MSM was observed in Hong Kong [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating an Innovative HIV Self-Testing Service With Web-Based, Real-Time Counseling Provided by an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot (HIVST-Chatbot) in Increasing HIV Self-Testing Use Among Chinese Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for a Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial

Chen¹,

Zhang²,

Chan³

et al. 2023

JMIR Res Protoc

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Counseling support for HIV self-testing (HIVST) users is essential to ensure support and linkage to care among men who have sex with men (MSM). An HIVST service with web-based real-time instruction, pretest, and posttest counseling provided by trained administrators (HIVST-OIC) was developed by previous projects. Although the HIVST-OIC was highly effective in increasing HIVST uptake and the proportion of HIVST users receiving counseling along with testing, it required intensive resources to implement and sustain. The service capacity of HIVST-OIC cannot meet the increasing demands of HIVST. Objective This randomized controlled trial primarily aims to establish whether HIVST-chatbot, an innovative HIVST service with web-based real-time instruction and counseling provided by a fully automated chatbot, would produce effects that are similar to HIVST-OIC in increasing HIVST uptake and the proportion of HIVST users receiving counseling alongside testing among MSM within a 6-month follow-up period. Methods A parallel-group, noninferiority randomized controlled trial will be conducted with Chinese-speaking MSM aged ≥18 years with access to live-chat applications. A total of 528 participants will be recruited through multiple sources, including outreach in gay venues, web-based advertisement, and peer referral. After completing the baseline telephone survey, participants will be randomized evenly into the intervention or control groups. Intervention group participants will watch a web-based video promoting HIVST-chatbot and receive a free HIVST kit. The chatbot will contact the participant to implement HIVST and provide standard-of-care, real-time pretest and posttest counseling and instructions on how to use the HIVST kit through WhatsApp. Control group participants will watch a web-based video promoting HIVST-OIC and receive a free HIVST kit in the same manner. Upon appointment, a trained testing administrator will implement HIVST and provide standard-of-care, real-time pretest and posttest counseling and instructions on how to use the HIVST kit through live-chat applications. All participants will complete a telephone follow-up survey 6 months after the baseline. The primary outcomes are HIVST uptake and the proportion of HIVST users receiving counseling support along with testing in the past 6 months, measured at month 6. Secondary outcomes include sexual risk behaviors and uptake of HIV testing other than HIVST during the follow-up period. Intention-to-treat analysis will be used. Results Recruitment and enrollment of participants started in April 2023. Conclusions This study will generate important research and policy implications regarding chatbot use in HIVST services. If HIVST-chatbot is proven noninferior to HIVST-OIC, it can be easily integrated into existing HIVST services in Hong Kong, given its relatively low resource requirements for implementation and maintenance. HIVST-chatbot can potentially overcome the barriers to using HIVST. Therefore, the coverage of HIV testing, the level of support, and the linkage to care for MSM HIVST users will be increased. Trial Registration ClinicalTrial.gov NCT05796622; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05796622 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/48447

show abstract

“…procedures were approved by the Survey and Behavioral Research Committee of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Same procedures to obtain verbal informed consent have been used in studies without face-to-face contacts [24][25][26].…”

Section: Plos Global Public Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitators and barriers to use rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong: A population-based cross-sectional random telephone survey

Kawuki

Fang

et al. 2023

PLOS Glob Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Faster diagnosis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is crucial for surveillance, prompt implementation of infection control measures and adequate patient care among older adults. This study investigated the behavioral intention to use Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and associated factors among older adults in Hong Kong for health monitoring and when having COVID-19-like symptoms. This was a population-based cross-sectional random telephone survey of 370 Chinese-speaking adults aged ≥65 years. The behavioral intention to use RAT was the main outcome, and logistic regression models were used to assess the associated factors, using SPSS (version 26.0.). Results indicate that among the participants, 90.3% had used RAT, of which 21.6% obtained positive results. The common challenges faced when using RAT included: difficulty choosing the right RAT kit, uncertainty about how to use RAT, and not knowing what to do after getting a positive result. Additionally, 27.3% intended to use RAT regularly for health status monitoring without any symptoms, while 87.0% if they had COVID-19-like symptoms. After adjustment for significant background characteristics, positive attitudes, perceiving Hong Kong government and their children and/or other family members would support them using RAT, belief that RAT health promotion materials were helpful to understand how to use RAT and thoughtful consideration of the veracity of COVID-19 specific information were associated with higher behavioral intention to use RAT both when having no symptoms and in presence of COVID-19-like symptoms. Having negative attitudes toward RAT was associated with a lower intention of RAT use only when having no symptoms. Addressing difficulties faced when using RAT, strengthening positive attitudes, involving significant others and empowering with adequate information-veracity evaluating skills are potentially vital strategies to increase RAT use among older adults.

show abstract

An Online Intervention Promoting HIV Testing Service Utilization Among Chinese men who have sex with men During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A quasi-experimental Study

Cited by 5 publications

References 27 publications

Examining HIV Testing Coverage and Factors Influencing First-Time Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Zhejiang Province, China: Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Large Internet Survey

Examining HIV Testing Coverage and Factors Influencing First-Time Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Zhejiang Province, China: Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Large Internet Survey

Evaluating an Innovative HIV Self-Testing Service With Web-Based, Real-Time Counseling Provided by an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot (HIVST-Chatbot) in Increasing HIV Self-Testing Use Among Chinese Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for a Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial

Facilitators and barriers to use rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong: A population-based cross-sectional random telephone survey

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About