The longer-term effects of access to HIV self-tests on HIV testing frequency in high-risk gay and bisexual men: follow-up data from a randomised controlled trial.

Ye Zhang; Muhammad S Jamil; Kirsty S Smith; Tanya L Applegate; Garrett Prestage; Martin Holt; Phillip Keen; Benjamin R Bavinton; Marcus Chen; Damian P Conway; Handan Wand; Anna M McNulty; Darren Russell; Matthew Vaughan; Colin Batrouney; Virginia Wiseman; Christopher K Fairley; Andrew E Grulich; Matthew Law; John M Kaldor; Rebecca J Guy

Journal article

The longer-term effects of access to HIV self-tests on HIV testing frequency in high-risk gay and bisexual men: follow-up data from a randomised controlled trial.

Ye Zhang, Muhammad S Jamil, Kirsty S Smith, Tanya L Applegate, Garrett Prestage, Martin Holt, Phillip Keen, Benjamin R Bavinton, Marcus Chen, Damian P Conway, Handan Wand, Anna M McNulty, Darren Russell, Matthew Vaughan, Colin Batrouney, Virginia Wiseman, Christopher K Fairley, Andrew E Grulich, Matthew Law, John M Kaldor Show all

Lancet Reg Health West Pac | Published : 2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100214

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Abstract

Background: A wait-list randomised controlled trial in Australia (FORTH) in high-risk gay and bisexual men (GBM) showed access to free HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) doubled the frequency of HIV testing in year 1 to reach guideline recommended levels of 4 tests per year, compared to two tests per year in the standard-care arm (facility-based testing). In year 2, men in both arms had access to HIVSTs. We assessed if the effect was maintained for a further 12 months. Methods: Participants included GBM reporting condomless anal intercourse or > 5 male partners in the past 3 months. We included men who had completed at least one survey in both year 1 and 2 and calculated the mean tests per person, base..

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