Acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection testing model among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, Canada
Objectives Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) due to stigma and other factors such as structural barriers, which delay STBBI testing in this population. Understanding acceptability of onli...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231173557 |
| _version_ | 1797826273887649792 |
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| author | Joshun JS Dulai Mark Gilbert Nathan J Lachowsky Kiffer G Card Ben Klassen Jessy Dame Ann N Burchell Catherine Worthington Aidan Ablona Praney Anand Ezra Blaque Heeho Ryu MacKenzie Stewart David J Brennan Daniel Grace |
| author_facet | Joshun JS Dulai Mark Gilbert Nathan J Lachowsky Kiffer G Card Ben Klassen Jessy Dame Ann N Burchell Catherine Worthington Aidan Ablona Praney Anand Ezra Blaque Heeho Ryu MacKenzie Stewart David J Brennan Daniel Grace |
| author_sort | Joshun JS Dulai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) due to stigma and other factors such as structural barriers, which delay STBBI testing in this population. Understanding acceptability of online testing is useful in expanding access in this population, thus we examined barriers to clinic-based testing, acceptability of a potential online testing model, and factors associated with acceptability among GBM living in Ontario. Methods Sex Now 2019 was a community-based, online, bilingual survey of GBM aged ≥15. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using modified Poisson regression with robust variances. Multivariable modelling was conducted using the Hosmer-Lemeshow-Sturdivant approach. Results Among 1369 participants, many delayed STBBI testing due to being too busy (31%) or inconvenient clinic hours (29%). Acceptability for online testing was high (80%), with saving time (67%) as the most common benefit, and privacy concerns the most common drawback (38%). Statistically significant predictors of acceptability for online testing were younger age (PR = 0.993; 95%CI: 0.991–0.996); a greater number of different sexual behaviours associated with STBBI transmission (PR = 1.031; 95%CI: 1.018–1.044); identifying as an Indigenous immigrant (PR = 1.427; 95%CI: 1.276–1.596) or immigrant of colour (PR = 1.158; 95%CI: 1.086–1.235) compared with white non-immigrants; and currently using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) compared to not currently using PrEP (PR = 0.894; 95%CI: 0.828–0.965). Conclusions Acceptability of online testing was high among GBM in Ontario. Implementing online STBBI testing may expand access for certain subpopulations of GBM facing barriers to current in-person testing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T11:06:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-499bce8c5c8140709ce01c153af4c1d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T11:06:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-499bce8c5c8140709ce01c153af4c1d92023-05-16T05:33:33ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762023-05-01910.1177/20552076231173557Acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection testing model among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, CanadaJoshun JS Dulai0Mark Gilbert1Nathan J Lachowsky2Kiffer G Card3Ben Klassen4Jessy Dame5Ann N Burchell6Catherine Worthington7Aidan Ablona8Praney Anand9Ezra Blaque10Heeho Ryu11MacKenzie Stewart12David J Brennan13Daniel Grace14 , Canada , Canada School of Public Health and Social Policy, , Canada School of Public Health and Social Policy, , Canada , Canada , Canada , Canada School of Public Health and Social Policy, , Canada Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Canada , Canada , Canada , Canada , Canada , Canada , CanadaObjectives Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) due to stigma and other factors such as structural barriers, which delay STBBI testing in this population. Understanding acceptability of online testing is useful in expanding access in this population, thus we examined barriers to clinic-based testing, acceptability of a potential online testing model, and factors associated with acceptability among GBM living in Ontario. Methods Sex Now 2019 was a community-based, online, bilingual survey of GBM aged ≥15. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using modified Poisson regression with robust variances. Multivariable modelling was conducted using the Hosmer-Lemeshow-Sturdivant approach. Results Among 1369 participants, many delayed STBBI testing due to being too busy (31%) or inconvenient clinic hours (29%). Acceptability for online testing was high (80%), with saving time (67%) as the most common benefit, and privacy concerns the most common drawback (38%). Statistically significant predictors of acceptability for online testing were younger age (PR = 0.993; 95%CI: 0.991–0.996); a greater number of different sexual behaviours associated with STBBI transmission (PR = 1.031; 95%CI: 1.018–1.044); identifying as an Indigenous immigrant (PR = 1.427; 95%CI: 1.276–1.596) or immigrant of colour (PR = 1.158; 95%CI: 1.086–1.235) compared with white non-immigrants; and currently using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) compared to not currently using PrEP (PR = 0.894; 95%CI: 0.828–0.965). Conclusions Acceptability of online testing was high among GBM in Ontario. Implementing online STBBI testing may expand access for certain subpopulations of GBM facing barriers to current in-person testing.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231173557 |
| spellingShingle | Joshun JS Dulai Mark Gilbert Nathan J Lachowsky Kiffer G Card Ben Klassen Jessy Dame Ann N Burchell Catherine Worthington Aidan Ablona Praney Anand Ezra Blaque Heeho Ryu MacKenzie Stewart David J Brennan Daniel Grace Acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection testing model among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, Canada Digital Health |
| title | Acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection testing model among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, Canada |
| title_full | Acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection testing model among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection testing model among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection testing model among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, Canada |
| title_short | Acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection testing model among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, Canada |
| title_sort | acceptability of an existing online sexually transmitted and blood borne infection testing model among gay bisexual and other men who have sex with men in ontario canada |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231173557 |
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