Evaluating the utility of reaching men through social networks and testing for blood borne viruses (HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C) Infections and Infestations
Conditions
Interventions
The overarching aim is to study the acceptability and feasibility of using social network-driven recruitment (SNDR) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and their peers in England to test for HIV, he
Sponsors
University College London
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Male who has had sex with another man within the last 12 months (sex can be oral or genital contact), 2. Aged 16 years old and over 3. Lives in England
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Cis heterosexual women 2. Aged 15 years old or under 3. Not normally resident in England
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The following primary outcome measures will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention: 1. The number of participants expressing interest as seeds, consenting to the process and recruiting alters (peers) measured from the total number of seeds who consented versus completed the process using an online self-completed questionnaire hosted on REDcap at the end of the study period 2. The number of participants (seeds or alters) going on to recruit their own alters – the number of waves in the different chains - measured using an online self-completed questionnaire hosted on REDcap at the end of the study period 3. The return rate of accepted test kits (to meet or exceed UKHSA Home HIV testing kit return rates of 0.54) measured using the number of kits sent versus returned by the end of the study period 4. The number of alters rejecting versus accepting participation (as reported by their recruiters) potential barriers to and facilitators to implementation within services measured quantitatively using the total number of coupons offered, as reported by participants, versus the number of peers who participate. Qualitative analysis will involve analysis of 1:1 interviews, by the end of the study period. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The following secondary outcome measures will assess the effectiveness of the interventions: 1. Network yield - newly diagnosed BBV infections divided by the number of alters and seeds at the end of the study period 2. Proportion of participants who: 2.1. Meet risk criteria but are not yet tested (participants who meet MOSAIC criteria for HCV testing but self-report as never having tested, by the end of the study period) 2.2. The number of participants who test positive for hepatitis C and self-report as not being hepatitis C positive by the end of the study period 2.3. The number of participants who self-report as having positive BBV infection but self-report as not being engaged in care at the time of enrolment, and then report engagement with services by the end of the study period 3. Ability of intervention to reach a less engaged at-risk population by exploring proportions of untested and undiagnosed MSM, comparing early recruitment waves (approximately waves 1-3) with later (4 onwards), by the end of the study period | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactNina Vora
Outcome results
None listed