User preference for HIV self-testing or self-sampling within a free online sexual health service: a service evaluation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate a service improvement project offering HIV testing through either self-testing or self-sampling in an online sexual health service by measuring type of test chosen and the reason for this choice. We created a web-page offering choice of online self-sampling or self-testing with information on the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Anyone aged over 18 years resident in England, Scotland or Wales could order either type of test. We describe the characteristics of users, the tests chosen and the reasons for the choice. A total of 1502 HIV testing orders were placed and 1466 (97.6%) testing kits were dispatched after exclusion of multiple orders by the same user. Sixty-seven per cent of users chose self-testing (n = 984) and the rest chose self-sampling (n = 482, 32.9%). The most frequent reasons for choosing self-testing were: immediate results (n = 264, 46.9%), ability to complete the test themselves (n = 168, 29.8%), less blood required (n = 67, 11.9%) and the privacy of testing at home (n = 55, 9.8%). Public sector provision of self-testing as an adjunct to clinic-based HIV testing services is likely to be highly acceptable to UK populations. However, a proportion will prefer self-sampling, and maintaining choice of testing modality is important.

Law, human rights and gender in practice: an analysis of lessons from implementation of self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health

“… 6 , 7 , 19 , 37 , 38 , 52 , 54 , 62 , 64 , 74 , 80 , 83 , 84 In the UK, HIV self-testing was seen as more convenient and more confidential in some communities due to immediate results, less blood required in self-sampling, ability to complete tests alone and the privacy it offers. 77 In Puerto Rico and New York City, men who have sex with men and transgender women reported feeling comfortable and able to talk to their partners about HIV self-testing, with many casual sexual partners agreeing to self-test. 55 A key informant described that, in Vietnam, because of the interest and demand from men who have sex with men, transgender women, female sex workers, and people who inject drugs and their sex partners, there has been a lot of work to understand client preferences on where, from whom and how to receive HIV self-testing (NGO representative, HIV).…”

“… 23 , 50 , 73 , 82 Self-care interventions allowed for greater uptake, and were often preferred, among study populations in need of HIV- and abortion-related services. 22 , 35 , 52 , 77 …”

Online self-sampling kits for human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections: Feasibility, positivity rates, and factors associated with infections in France

“…[7][8][9] Postal SSKs have been proven to increase not only screening for STIs, particularly in men, but also the rate of positive tests compared to clinician-collected samples. 10,11 Postal SSK services have been developed for the general population, as in the UK national self-sampling service and the SH:24 program, 12,13 or for specific populations like MSM 14 with the objective to address barriers to testing such as the need to make an appointment or even shame to ask for STI testing. The existing offer varies from an HIV-only test [12][13][14] to a multi-test kit with screening for several STIs, including HIV, syphilis, CT, NG, HBV, and HCV.…”

“…10,11 Postal SSK services have been developed for the general population, as in the UK national self-sampling service and the SH:24 program, 12,13 or for specific populations like MSM 14 with the objective to address barriers to testing such as the need to make an appointment or even shame to ask for STI testing. The existing offer varies from an HIV-only test [12][13][14] to a multi-test kit with screening for several STIs, including HIV, syphilis, CT, NG, HBV, and HCV. [15][16][17][18] For MSM, the HIV positive test rate was nearly 1% in the UK national selfsampling service 13,16 and 2% in an MSM program organized by an MSM sexual health clinic.…”

Determinants of Recent HIV Self-Testing Uptake Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Jiangsu Province, China: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

“…In addition, many studies have found HIVST acceptable to various marginalized populations (including MSM) and feasible in multiple settings (11)(12)(13)(14). For MSM who have never tested for HIV, HIVST may represent a suitable option as it offers privacy, confidentiality, and is easy to use (15,16).…”