title: Attitudes towards HIV testing via home-sampling kits ordered online (RUClear pilots 2011-12).
abstract: The burden of disease relating to undiagnosed HIV infection is significant in the UK. BHIVA (British HIV Association) recommends population screening in high prevalence areas, expanding outside traditional antenatal/GUM settings.
  
  
  
  RUClear 2011-12 piloted expanding HIV testing outside traditional settings using home-sampling kits (dry-blood-spot testing) ordered online. Greater Manchester residents (≥age 16) could request testing via an established, online chlamydia testing service (www.ruclear.co.uk). Participant attitudes towards this new service were assessed. Qualitative methods (thematic analysis) were used to analyse free-text data submitted by participants via hard copy questionnaires issued in all testing kits.
  
  
  
  79.9% (2447/3062) participants completed questionnaires, of which 30.9% (756/2447) provided free-text data. Participants overwhelmingly supported the service, valuing particularly accessibility and convenience, allowing individuals to order tests any time of day and self-sample comfortably at home; avoiding the invasive nature of venipuncture and avoiding the need for face-to-face interaction with health services. The pilot was also clinically and cost-effective.
  
  
  
  Testing via home-sampling kits ordered online (dry-blood-spot testing) was felt to be an acceptable and convenient method for accessing a HIV test. Many individuals undertook HIV testing where they would otherwise not have been tested at all. Expansion of similar services may increase the uptake of HIV testing.
authors.affiliation: Greater Manchester Health Protection Team, Public Health England, Manchester M1 3BN, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahmed-Little
authors.affiliation: Greater Manchester Health Protection Team, Public Health England, Manchester M1 3BN, UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bothra
authors.affiliation: RUClear Chlamydia Screening Programme, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cordwell
authors.affiliation: RUClear Chlamydia Screening Programme, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freeman Powell
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory, Public Health England, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klapper
authors.affiliation: RUClear Chlamydia Screening Programme, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scanlon
authors.affiliation: Department of Sexual Health and HIV, North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.affiliation: Cheshire and Mersey Health Protection Team, Public Health England, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vivancos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: beliefs; health services; public health