Social network-based approaches to distributing HIV self-test kits among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: A demonstration study

Researchers will assess the eligibility of the interested participants and will follow up via email to make initial contact with the eligible participants. Eligible men who agree to participate will be given the Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF)-Test promoter version (see Appendix A1). If the participant has any queries about the study, they can contact the researchers (contact details on the PICF) before signing the consent form. Once participants (test promoters) have consented, they will receive an electronic copy of the Information Booklet and HIV self-test FAQ. Materials from the trial will be reviewed by the representatives (advisory support committee members) from the community organisations (i.e., Thorne habour health). Each test promoter will then receive four HIV self-test kits via mail, one for himself/themselves to use and remaining three for him to distribute to his social network or sexual partners, preferably overseas-born MSM. Test promoters will be required to distribute the HIV self test kits to his social network or sexual partners within 3 months. All kits shipped to a test promoter will be individually packed with instructions in an unmarked box to protect privacy. Within each packed HIV self-test kit box, there will receive a hardcopy of the Information Booklet with information on the study procedure and a HIV self-test FAQ (what is HIV self-test , how to perform a HIV self-test , how to handle a reactive result, what to do if the test is invalid), condoms and QR codes/links to survey. Each kit will be assigned with a unique “ST” number for returned results tracking (coded in a way that enables the study to track which results are returned by contacts of which test promoter). When the test promoter receives the package, he/they will be required to send a text message (SMS) to the study researcher to confirm receipt of the package. The phone number will be obtained from one of Melbourne Sexual Health Centre’s current research phone numbers, and will be used exclusively for this study. Test promoters will receive a phone call from the researcher at approximately 1.5-2 weeks after the kit is mailed out from the study site if the researcher did not receive a text message from the test promoter. When the test promoter distributes the package to their social contact, he/they will be required to send a second text message to the researcher with details of the ‘corresponding ST number’ and ‘country of birth of the social contact’ to inform the researcher that the kit has been distributed to a social contact. A follow-up phone call or text message will be made at 1 month, 2 months if the test promoter has not yet distributed the kits out. The test-promoter is not required to provide additional consent to the social contact they provide the kit to. They are simply required to provide the kit to the individuals, and it is assumed that the test promoters know country of birth for identification purposes as they are friends or sexual partners. After the social contacts of the test promoter opens the pack, he/they will be asked to a send a text message to the researcher with details of the ST number to inform the researcher that the kit is received and ‘activated’. In the scenario that the test promoter has distributed the test kit to his/their social contacts but the social contact has not conducted the test (i.e researcher did not receive activation SMS from social contact or post-test survey does not contain the ST number of the test kit that the social contact received), the researcher will follow-up with the test promoter at 1-month, 2-month and 3-month (from date of second SMS) to remind the test promoter to prompt his social contact to do the HIV self-test. There will also be a QR code on the HIV self-test kit packaging which will bring them to the study website. This website will be created under the current Melbourne Sexual Health Centre research page (https://www.mshc.org.au/research/research-studies/HIVselftest). It will an interactive webpage with a video demonstration video on how to perform the self-test (Appendix A19- Atomo video transcript). At the bottom of the video, there will be a link to a survey. While they wait for their results (~15 minutes), they can click on the survey (~10-15 minutes) with questions on their ST number, demographic characteristics, HIV testing practices, who they received the test kit from, and their test result etc. We will also ask their experience of and attitude towards HIV self-test using open-ended comments and Likert scales. In the survey, we will also ask them if they are willing to be interviewed to share about their testing experiences (with reimbursement of $50 Coles voucher) as part of the qualitative aspect of the study. At the end of the survey, participants will be asked if they wish to pay-it-forward and sign up as test promoters. If so, they will be redirected to another page to leave their contact details. This information will not be linked to their responses on the post-test survey. They will be assessed for eligibility and recruited as new test promoter if eligible. The researcher will contact them to obtain written consent (see Participant Information and Consent Form-- 2nd wave) to participate in the study. Each test promoter will receive another four HIV self-test kits (one for their next use and three kits to distribute to their overseas-born social networks).