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The Preferred Qualities of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing and Self-Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Authors :
Ong, Jason J.
De Abreu Lourenco, Richard
Street, Deborah
Smith, Kirsty
Jamil, Muhammad S.
Terris-Prestholt, Fern
Fairley, Christopher K.
McNulty, Anna
Hynes, Adam
Johnson, Karl
Chow, Eric P.F.
Bavinton, Benjamin
Grulich, Andrew
Stoove, Mark
Holt, Martin
Kaldor, John
Guy, Rebecca
Source :
Value in Health. Jul2020, Vol. 23 Issue 7, p870-879. 10p.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

<bold>Objectives: </bold>Human immunodeficiency virus self-testing (HIVST) is a promising approach to improve HIV testing coverage. We aimed to understand HIV testing preferences of men who have sex with men (MSM) to optimize HIVST implementation.<bold>Methods: </bold>Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) were conducted among HIV-negative MSM living in Australia and aged ≥18 years. Men completed 1 of 2 DCEs: DCETest for preferred qualities of HIV testing (price, speed, window period, test type, and collector of specimen) and DCEKits for preferred qualities of HIVST kits (price, location of access, packaging, and usage instructions). Latent class conditional logit regression was used to explore similarities (or "classes") in preference behavior.<bold>Results: </bold>Overall, the study recruited 1606 men: 62% born in Australia, who had an average age of 36.0 years (SD 11.7), and a self-reported median of 4 (interquartile range 2-8) sexual partners in the last 6 months. The respondents to DCETest was described by 4 classes: "prefer shorter window period" (36%), "prefer self-testing" (27%), "prefer highly accurate tests" (22%), and "prefer low prices" (15%). Respondents to DCEKits were described by 4 classes: "prefer low prices" (48%), "prefer retail access (from pharmacy or online stores)" (29%), "prefer access at sex venues" (15%), and "prefer to buy from healthcare staff" (12%). Preferences varied by when someone migrated to Australia, age, frequency of testing, and number of sexual partners.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>A subset of MSM, particularly infrequent testers, value access to HIVST. Expanding access to HIVST kits through online portals and pharmacies and at sex venues should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10983015
Volume :
23
Issue :
7
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Value in Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
144905381
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2020.04.1826