Providing HIV testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in China: A qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providers
ObjectiveWe explored the feasibility of app-based HIV testing services (AHTS) among men who have sex with men (MSM) according to the perspectives of testing service providers.MethodsTwenty-one current or previous AHTS providers participated in a semi-structured interview which explored the facilitat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1056720/full |
| _version_ | 1811224635689140224 |
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| author | Tianming Zhao Tianming Zhao Zhaobing Cao Zhaobing Cao Zhen Jiang Gabriella Bulloch Yanchao Qiu Lihua Liu Lijing Wang Yingxia Li Ce Jia Li Guo Zunyou Wu Zunyou Wu |
| author_facet | Tianming Zhao Tianming Zhao Zhaobing Cao Zhaobing Cao Zhen Jiang Gabriella Bulloch Yanchao Qiu Lihua Liu Lijing Wang Yingxia Li Ce Jia Li Guo Zunyou Wu Zunyou Wu |
| author_sort | Tianming Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveWe explored the feasibility of app-based HIV testing services (AHTS) among men who have sex with men (MSM) according to the perspectives of testing service providers.MethodsTwenty-one current or previous AHTS providers participated in a semi-structured interview which explored the facilitators and barriers to AHTS. Ten participants originating from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 11 from the non-governmental organization (NGO) in Shijiazhuang, China took part in this study. Interviews was transcribed verbatim, and the socioecological model (SEM) was applied to thematic analysis.ResultsTwenty-one participants from AHTS services commented on the integration of online appointment schedules into HIV testing services. AHTS was deemed a convenient and efficient method for MSM and service providers to choose their preferred location and times. Moreover, it allowed for important HIV-related information to be accessed online and targeted toward at-risk individuals. Participants thought MSM may feel unsure about personal information security being stored within a privatized app and was considered a barrier to AHTS's usability. As such, they believed establishing a government-led national online platform for AHTS would allow for greater trust from MSM, rather than a social media app.ConclusionBy linking booking services to an online platform, AHTS was deemed a convenient and efficient method for HIV testing services, especially for young MSM who are familiar with smartphone applications. To improve the use of these services, AHTS apps should focus on ensuring the confidentiality of personal information and internet security to build trust between MSM and service providers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:52:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-169444db501b4a3e85e0116d369949a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:52:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-169444db501b4a3e85e0116d369949a72022-12-22T03:39:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-11-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.10567201056720Providing HIV testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in China: A qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providersTianming Zhao0Tianming Zhao1Zhaobing Cao2Zhaobing Cao3Zhen Jiang4Gabriella Bulloch5Yanchao Qiu6Lihua Liu7Lijing Wang8Yingxia Li9Ce Jia10Li Guo11Zunyou Wu12Zunyou Wu13Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, ChinaNational Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, ChinaNational Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaNational Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaFaculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaShijiazhuang Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, ChinaShijiazhuang Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, ChinaShijiazhuang Fifth Hospital, Shijiazhuang, ChinaShijiazhuang Fifth Hospital, Shijiazhuang, ChinaThe “Tongxing” Non-Governmental Organization, Shijiazhuang, ChinaThe “Tongxing” Non-Governmental Organization, Shijiazhuang, ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, ChinaNational Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaObjectiveWe explored the feasibility of app-based HIV testing services (AHTS) among men who have sex with men (MSM) according to the perspectives of testing service providers.MethodsTwenty-one current or previous AHTS providers participated in a semi-structured interview which explored the facilitators and barriers to AHTS. Ten participants originating from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 11 from the non-governmental organization (NGO) in Shijiazhuang, China took part in this study. Interviews was transcribed verbatim, and the socioecological model (SEM) was applied to thematic analysis.ResultsTwenty-one participants from AHTS services commented on the integration of online appointment schedules into HIV testing services. AHTS was deemed a convenient and efficient method for MSM and service providers to choose their preferred location and times. Moreover, it allowed for important HIV-related information to be accessed online and targeted toward at-risk individuals. Participants thought MSM may feel unsure about personal information security being stored within a privatized app and was considered a barrier to AHTS's usability. As such, they believed establishing a government-led national online platform for AHTS would allow for greater trust from MSM, rather than a social media app.ConclusionBy linking booking services to an online platform, AHTS was deemed a convenient and efficient method for HIV testing services, especially for young MSM who are familiar with smartphone applications. To improve the use of these services, AHTS apps should focus on ensuring the confidentiality of personal information and internet security to build trust between MSM and service providers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1056720/fullAHTSMSMfacilitatorsbarriersqualitative interviews |
| spellingShingle | Tianming Zhao Tianming Zhao Zhaobing Cao Zhaobing Cao Zhen Jiang Gabriella Bulloch Yanchao Qiu Lihua Liu Lijing Wang Yingxia Li Ce Jia Li Guo Zunyou Wu Zunyou Wu Providing HIV testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in China: A qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providers Frontiers in Public Health AHTS MSM facilitators barriers qualitative interviews |
| title | Providing HIV testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in China: A qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providers |
| title_full | Providing HIV testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in China: A qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providers |
| title_fullStr | Providing HIV testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in China: A qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Providing HIV testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in China: A qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providers |
| title_short | Providing HIV testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in China: A qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providers |
| title_sort | providing hiv testing in men who have sex with men through a gay social networking app in china a qualitative interview study with multisectoral service providers |
| topic | AHTS MSM facilitators barriers qualitative interviews |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1056720/full |
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