Evaluation of a mobile application to support HIV self-testing in Johannesburg, South Africa
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus self-testing (HIVST) reduces barriers associated with facility-based testing; however, no formal mechanism exists for users to self-report results or link to care. The AspectTM HIVST mobile application (app) was developed for use in South Africa. Objectives:...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/1088 |
| _version_ | 1811291134765301760 |
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| author | Natasha Gous Alex E. Fischer Naleni Rhagnath Mothepane Phatsoane Mohammed Majam Samanta T. Lalla-Edward |
| author_facet | Natasha Gous Alex E. Fischer Naleni Rhagnath Mothepane Phatsoane Mohammed Majam Samanta T. Lalla-Edward |
| author_sort | Natasha Gous |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Human immunodeficiency virus self-testing (HIVST) reduces barriers associated with facility-based testing; however, no formal mechanism exists for users to self-report results or link to care. The AspectTM HIVST mobile application (app) was developed for use in South Africa.
Objectives: This study evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of the AspectTM HIVST app for individuals from the inner city of Johannesburg.
Method: This cross-sectional pilot, with a convenience sample of 300 adults, was conducted in July 2018. Participants were provided an OraQuick HIVST kit and a smartphone preloaded with the app, then asked to follow the in-app instructions for use (IFU) to complete the HIVST and upload results. Trained healthcare workers (HCWs) observed and recorded any deviations from the IFU, and conducted a post-test survey to assess acceptability. Feasibility was evaluated by the number of participants who agreed to participate, completed the self-test, and uploaded all information onto the app correctly.
Results: Most participants (98.7%) found the app easy to use. To reduce difficulties related to the IFU (26; 8.7%), participants suggested multimedia supplements (4; 1.3%), additional languages (4; 1.3%) and simplified instructions (5; 1.7%). All individuals approached, agreed to participate, 267 (89.0%) correctly completed all steps and 210 (78.7%) successfully captured all information on the app. Most errors (26; 8.7%) were testing errors and 1 (0.3%) was from the app sequence. Twelve (4.5%) errors were with test strip imaging and 72 (27.0%) discordances were with demographic information.
Conclusion: Despite some challenges with IFU interpretation and data capture via the app, this pilot showed that the AspectTM HIVST app is an acceptable way to upload mobile HIVST results and demographic information to a central database. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:24:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57f8f07a5ee143248361fede6c573012 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1608-9693 2078-6751 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:24:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-57f8f07a5ee143248361fede6c5730122022-12-22T03:02:34ZengAOSISSouthern African Journal of HIV Medicine1608-96932078-67512020-06-01211e1e710.4102/sajhivmed.v21i1.1088685Evaluation of a mobile application to support HIV self-testing in Johannesburg, South AfricaNatasha Gous0Alex E. Fischer1Naleni Rhagnath2Mothepane Phatsoane3Mohammed Majam4Samanta T. Lalla-Edward5SystemOne, LLC, Weltevreden ParkEzintsha, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, JohannesburgEzintsha, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, JohannesburgEzintsha, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, JohannesburgEzintsha, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, JohannesburgEzintsha, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, JohannesburgBackground: Human immunodeficiency virus self-testing (HIVST) reduces barriers associated with facility-based testing; however, no formal mechanism exists for users to self-report results or link to care. The AspectTM HIVST mobile application (app) was developed for use in South Africa. Objectives: This study evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of the AspectTM HIVST app for individuals from the inner city of Johannesburg. Method: This cross-sectional pilot, with a convenience sample of 300 adults, was conducted in July 2018. Participants were provided an OraQuick HIVST kit and a smartphone preloaded with the app, then asked to follow the in-app instructions for use (IFU) to complete the HIVST and upload results. Trained healthcare workers (HCWs) observed and recorded any deviations from the IFU, and conducted a post-test survey to assess acceptability. Feasibility was evaluated by the number of participants who agreed to participate, completed the self-test, and uploaded all information onto the app correctly. Results: Most participants (98.7%) found the app easy to use. To reduce difficulties related to the IFU (26; 8.7%), participants suggested multimedia supplements (4; 1.3%), additional languages (4; 1.3%) and simplified instructions (5; 1.7%). All individuals approached, agreed to participate, 267 (89.0%) correctly completed all steps and 210 (78.7%) successfully captured all information on the app. Most errors (26; 8.7%) were testing errors and 1 (0.3%) was from the app sequence. Twelve (4.5%) errors were with test strip imaging and 72 (27.0%) discordances were with demographic information. Conclusion: Despite some challenges with IFU interpretation and data capture via the app, this pilot showed that the AspectTM HIVST app is an acceptable way to upload mobile HIVST results and demographic information to a central database.https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/1088hiv self-testdigitisationmobile appmonitoring and evaluationdigital health |
| spellingShingle | Natasha Gous Alex E. Fischer Naleni Rhagnath Mothepane Phatsoane Mohammed Majam Samanta T. Lalla-Edward Evaluation of a mobile application to support HIV self-testing in Johannesburg, South Africa Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine hiv self-test digitisation mobile app monitoring and evaluation digital health |
| title | Evaluation of a mobile application to support HIV self-testing in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_full | Evaluation of a mobile application to support HIV self-testing in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a mobile application to support HIV self-testing in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a mobile application to support HIV self-testing in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_short | Evaluation of a mobile application to support HIV self-testing in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_sort | evaluation of a mobile application to support hiv self testing in johannesburg south africa |
| topic | hiv self-test digitisation mobile app monitoring and evaluation digital health |
| url | https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/1088 |
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