OPTIMISING CLINICAL SYSTEMS TO INCREASE HIV/STI TESTING IN GAY MEN: THE ETEST PROJECT

Abstract

BackgroundDespite HIV/STI testing rates being high (∼60%) on an annual basis in gay men in Australia, the proportion of “high risk” gay men having two or more HIV/STI tests per year, as specified in clinical guidelines, appears quite low (20%). Mathematical modelling predicts that increasing the frequency of HIV/STI testing among gay men with high numbers of sexual partners to 3–6 monthly would effectively stop the HIV and syphilis epidemics over a ten year period. We developed a multi-faceted intervention package based on information technology which aims to increase STI/HIV testing in high-risk men gay men. We describe the process and outcomes of the development stage of the intervention.M..