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Journal article
Point-of-care testing (POCT) for HIV/STI targeting MSM in regional Australia at community "beat' locations
BMC Health Services Research, Vol.19(1), pp.1-10
2019
PMID: 30711001
Abstract
Background
Innovative health promotion strategies are needed to improve access to HIV testing among regional people in Australia, particularly for men who have sex with men (MSM). This project aimed to establish proof of concept for point-of-care-testing (POCT) via a mobile van clinic at community ‘beat’ locations. Surveys evaluated client satisfaction, characteristics and testing preferences among ‘early adopters’. Sequential mixed-methods approach was used which included secondary qualitative analysis of field notes written by peer-testers (i.e., trained lay providers from the key population being targeted; to extend the contextualise the pilot evaluation), documenting barriers/facilitators and innovations, per action research and to guide recommendations for future health promotion initiatives.
Methods
A POCT ‘proof of concept’ project (2, 3-hourly sessions/week; 20 weeks) was delivered in a regional town by peer-testers using a mobile clinic van, recruited by geosocial ‘apps’ targeting MSM. Clients completed surveys regarding demographics, and testing satisfaction, frequency and preferences. Peer-testers completed detailed field notes for each session including client characteristics and impressions, salient events, concerns and recommendations.
Results
The program resulted in 34 online health promotion conversations with MSM and 34 POCT tests (19 HIV, 15 Syphilis; 18 unique client visits; 17 identified as MSM, with 1 heterosexual female. Rates of satisfaction among early adopters of POCT was high. Analysis of field notes revealed three major themes: 1) Practical challenges; 2) Barriers to engagement; and 3) Recruitment method/project promotion.
Conclusions
Amongst early adopters satisfaction was high, with 47% of clients reported infrequent testing (over 12 months ago) or having ‘never tested’. No tests were reactive. Challenges associated with this health promotion initiative and recommendations for future HIV testing promotion and programs were outlined.
Details
- Title
- Point-of-care testing (POCT) for HIV/STI targeting MSM in regional Australia at community "beat' locations
- Authors
- Amy B. Mullens (Corresponding Author) - University of Southern QueenslandJosh Duyker - Queensland Positive People (Australia)Charlotte Brownlow - University of Southern QueenslandJime Lemoire - Queensland Positive People (Australia)Kirstie Daken - University of Southern QueenslandJeff Gow - University of Southern Queensland
- Publication details
- BMC Health Services Research, Vol.19(1), pp.1-10
- Publisher
- BioMed Central Ltd.
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12913-019-3899-2
- ISSN
- 1472-6963
- PMID
- 30711001
- Copyright note
- This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
- Data Availability
- The datasets analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to the sensitive nature of the data and due to QPP privacy rules; however, non-identifiable data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request and with approval from co-authors.
- Grant note
- This study was funded by the HIV Foundation Queensland and Gilead, with data used in this study collected as part of an HIV prevention and health promotion initiative involving Rapid POCT.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991201344602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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