O06.5 Expanding syphilis test uptake using rapid dual self-testing for syphilis and HIV among MSM: a randomized controlled trial in China
Year: 2021
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background We evaluated the effectiveness and costs of providing syphilis self-testing on increasing syphilis testing uptake among MSM in China. Methods An open label three-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted between 7 January 2020 and 17 July 2020. Men who were at least 18 years of age, had condomless anal sex with men in the past year, reported not testing for syphilis in the last six months, and had a stable residence with mailing addresses were recruited from 124 cities in Chinese 26 provinces. Enrolled participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) into three arms using block randomization with a block size of 12: standard of care arm; standard syphilis self-testing arm; and lottery incentivized syphilis self-testing arm (1 in 10 chance to win $15 if they tested for syphilis). The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who tested for syphilis. Results A total of 451 men were enrolled. 136 (90·7%) in the standard of care arm, 142 (94·0%) in the standard of SST arm, 137 (91·3%) in the lottery incentivized SST arm were included in final analysis. The proportion of men who had at least one syphilis test during the trial period was 63·4% (95% CI:54·9–71·3) in the standard SST arm, 65·7% (95% CI: 57·1–73·6) in the lottery-incentivized SST arm, and 14·7% (95% CI: 9·2–21·8) in the standard of care arm. The estimated difference in the proportion between the standard SST and standard of care arm was 48·7% (95% CI: 38·8–58·6, P<0.05). The cost per person tested was $66·19 for the standard-of-care arm, $26·55 for standard SST and $28·09 for the lottery incentivized SST arm. Conclusion Compared to standard of care, providing syphilis self-testing significantly increased the proportion of MSM testing for syphilis in China– particularly among men who had never tested for syphilis, and was cheaper (per person tested).
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W3179856544