title: Exportability of an intervention to increase HIV testing in the Veterans Health Administration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exportability, or the dissemination of successful health services interventions from one site to another, must be demonstrated before systemwide implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effectiveness of a previously successful multicomponent intervention to increase rates of HIV testing in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care facilities among those without records of previous testing was evaluated in two other VHA facilities. Whereas the principle responsibility for the provider-activation component of the intervention was previously borne by research staff, nonresearch staff now took on these responsibilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual rate of HIV testing among persons with documented risk factors for acquiring HIV infection increased by 5.8% and 16% after the end of the first year of implementation for the sites to which the project was newly exported and where nonresearch staff were responsible for implementation. In contrast, for the original implementation sites, where research staff played a major role in implementation, testing rates increased by 9.3% and 12.4%. There was no change in the rate of testing at a control site. At one site, HIV testing rates increased before implementation of the provider activation aspect of the intervention program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An intervention to increase HIV testing rates, which combines informatics, organizational support, and provider activation, can be successfully exported and implemented by nonresearch staff and may not require an extensive provider activation program. The resultant increases in HIV testing are similar to those seen in facilities where research staff play an active role. This work provides support for further efforts to refine this program to promote non-risk-based testing for HIV infection, as per current VHA policy and to more broadly implement this program.
authors.affiliation: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, USA. Matthew.Goetz@va.gov
authors.forename: Matthew Bidwell
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: Tuyen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Herschel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: S Randal
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anaya
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Allen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Asch
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans; D058014:Veterans Health