title: Rapid HIV Testing Is Highly Acceptable and Preferred among High-Risk Gay And Bisexual Men after Implementation in Sydney Sexual Health Clinics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rapid HIV testing (RHT) is well established in many countries, but it is new in Australia. We assessed the acceptability of RHT and its associations among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) after implementation of RHT in Sydney sexual health clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  GBM were invited to complete an acceptability questionnaire before and after provision of the result of finger-prick blood RHT, comparing their experience of RHT with conventional HIV testing (CHT) involving venipuncture. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between patient characteristics and the preference for RHT over CHT next time they tested for HIV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1061 GBM who received non-reactive RHT results, 59% found RHT less stressful than CHT and 34% reported no difference, and 61% found RHT more comfortable than CHT and 26% reported no difference. Nearly all men were satisfied with RHT result delivery (99%) and the RHT process overall (99%). Most men (79%) preferred RHT for their next HIV test and this preference was stronger in men who were aged 35-44 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.49, p<0.01), reported they would test more often if RHT was available (AOR 1.66, p=0.01), found returning for results annoying (AOR 1.67, p=0.01), and found RHT less stressful (AOR 2.37, p<0.01) and more comfortable (AOR 1.62, p=0.02) than CHT. Men concerned about the reliability of RHT were less than half as likely to prefer RHT for their next HIV test (AOR 0.44, p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most GBM preferred RHT to CHT next time and this preference was associated with finding RHT more convenient, more comfortable and less stressful than CHT. These findings suggest that in a clinic setting RHT should be considered to improve the patient experience and may potentially increase uptake and frequency of HIV testing.
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Short Street Sexual Health Centre, St George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Damian P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.affiliation: North Shore Sexual Health Service, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; The Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Couldwell
authors.affiliation: Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McNulty
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Albion Centre, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Don E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keen
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; NSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D057240:Patient Preference; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult