@Article{info:doi/10.2196/26480,
author="Marley, Gifty
and Fu, Gengfeng
and Zhang, Ye
and Li, Jianjun
and Tucker, Joseph D
and Tang, Weiming
and Yu, Rongbin",
title="Willingness of Chinese Men Who Have Sex With Men to Use Smartphone-Based Electronic Readers for HIV Self-testing: Web-Based Cross-sectional Study",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2021",
month="Nov",
day="19",
volume="23",
number="11",
pages="e26480",
keywords="smartphone-based electronic reader; electronic readers; HIV self-testing; HIVST; self-testing; cellular phone--based readers; mHealth",
abstract="Background: The need for strategies to encourage user-initiated reporting of results after HIV self-testing (HIVST) persists. Smartphone-based electronic readers (SERs) have been shown capable of reading diagnostics results accurately in point-of-care diagnostics and could bridge the current gaps between HIVST and linkage to care. Objective: Our study aimed to assess the willingness of Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Jiangsu province to use an SER for HIVST through a web-based cross-sectional study. Methods: From February to April 2020, we conducted a convenience web-based survey among Chinese MSM by using a pretested structured questionnaire. Survey items were adapted from previous HIVST feasibility studies and modified as required. Prior to answering reader-related questions, participants watched a video showcasing a prototype SER. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis, chi-squared test, and multivariable logistic regression. P values less than .05 were deemed statistically significant. Results: Of 692 participants, 369 (53.3{\%}) were aged 26-40 years, 456 (65.9{\%}) had ever self-tested for HIV, and 493 (71.2{\%}) were willing to use an SER for HIVST. Approximately 98{\%} (483/493) of the willing participants, 85.3{\%} (459/538) of ever self-tested and never self-tested, and 40{\%} (46/115) of unwilling participants reported that SERs would increase their HIVST frequency. Engaging in unprotected anal intercourse with regular partners compared to consistently using condoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.04, 95{\%} CI 1.19-7.74) increased the odds of willingness to use an SER for HIVST. Participants who had ever considered HIVST at home with a partner right before sex compared to those who had not (AOR 2.99, 95{\%} CI 1.13-7.90) were also more willing to use an SER for HIVST. Playing receptive roles during anal intercourse compared to playing insertive roles (AOR 0.05, 95{\%} CI 0.02-0.14) was associated with decreased odds of being willing to use an SER for HIVST. The majority of the participants (447/608, 73.5{\%}) preferred to purchase readers from local Centers of Disease Control and Prevention offices and 51.2{\%} (311/608) of the participants were willing to pay less than US {\$}4.70 for a reader device. Conclusions: The majority of the Chinese MSM, especially those with high sexual risk behaviors, were willing to use an SER for HIVST. Many MSM were also willing to self-test more frequently for HIV with an SER. Further research is needed to ascertain the diagnostic and real-time data-capturing capacity of prototype SERs during HIVST. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/26480",
url="https://www.jmir.org/2021/11/e26480",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/26480",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34806988"
}