142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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298480
Pharmacy-based HIV Testing vs Over-the-counter HIV Tests: Preferences of Gay and Bisexual Men

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Sunday, November 16, 2014

Beth Meyerson, MDiv, PhD , Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Roberta Emetu, MLS , Applied Health Science/School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Stephanie Sanders, PhD , The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Marlon Bailey, PhD , Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Priscilla T. Ryder, MPH PhD , College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
James Armstrong, MPH , Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomngton, IN
Background: Little is known about the views of gay and bisexual men about pharmacy-based HIV testing, results provision and access to over-the counter (OTC) HIV tests; particularly for areas of the country with weak public health systems and resources. With self-testing relatively accessible, knowing preferences of gay and bisexual men for OTC vs pharmacy based testing will inform program and policy development related to information and linkage to care.

Methods: 2013 online survey of 169 Indiana men who have sex with men (MSM) ages 18-45 to assess acceptability and preferences for pharmacy-based HIV testing and OTC HIV tests. Three separate multivariate binary logistic regression models were created to predict the likelihood of OTC purchase, pharmacy testing, preference for OTC over pharmacy based testing and preference for pharmacy based testing over OTC. 


Results: Participants were positive about OTC and pharmacist-provided HIV testing, though somewhat more so for the OTC testing (66.7% vs. 54.0%). The likelihood of purchasing an OTC was higher for rural men (93.3% vs. 64.5%) and those who had never tested for HIV (85.7%). Preferences for pharmacy-based HIV testing was higher only among those who were HIV negative. Preferences for OTC testing was higher among men who did not know their HIV status (64.7 vs 22.9%) and those who have never tested for HIV (70.6% vs 22.2%).

Conclusions: HIV prevention planning should include testing and linkage to care information/messages at point of OTC purchase; whether through packaging or pharmacy information.

 

Learning Areas:

Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify the preferences for over the counter vs. pharmacy based HIV testing among a sample of gay and bisexual men in a moderate HIV incidence state. Describe issues unique to rural men who have less access to testing as compared with their urban counterparts Discuss implications for HIV testing and Over the Counter Test access in pharmacy settings given study findings

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, Pharmacists

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Meyerson is public health administration and policy faculty at IU School of Public Health and the Co-Director of the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention. For the past 15 years, Dr. Meyerson has engaged in HIV and STD related research with focus on HIV testing and systems opportunities to improve health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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