Evidence map›Paper›PMID 23457470›Full record

ArticlePloS one2013

Increased HIV testing will modestly reduce HIV incidence among gay men in NSW and would be acceptable if HIV testing becomes convenient.

Richard T Gray, Garrett P Prestage, Ian Down, Muhammad Haris Ghaus, Alexander Hoare, Jack Bradley, David P Wilson

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
4.9field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 61 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  12. Evidence for optimal HIV screening and testing intervals in HIV-negative individuals from various risk groups: A systematic review.Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada · 2018
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  17. Cost-Effectiveness of Frequent HIV Testing of High-Risk Populations in the United States.Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) · 2016
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Richard T GrayThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. rgray@kirby.unsw.edu.au
Garrett P Prestage
Ian Down
Muhammad Haris Ghaus
Alexander Hoare
Jack Bradley
David P Wilson
UNSW Sydney · AULa Trobe University · AU

Funding

Medical Research Council 630495
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveDetermine the acceptability and epidemiological impact of increases in HIV testing in gay men in New South Wales (NSW), Australia- particularly pertinent when considering treatment as prevention and the need to reduce undiagnosed infections.

methodsWe conducted an online survey and focus groups to assess whether increases in HIV testing would be acceptable to gay men in NSW. In parallel, we assessed the potential impact of increases in testing coverage and/or frequency using an individual-based model of HIV transmission.

resultsIf sexual practices and the rate of initiating HIV treatment are unchanged then increasing HIV testing reduces infections. Increasing testing frequency has the largest impact, with a 13.8% reduction in HIV infections over 10 years if the ∼55-75% of men who test at least once per year increased their testing frequency to four times per year. If testing levels decrease from current levels then we expect an increase in HIV infections with a sharply rising trend over time. Increasing HIV testing would be acceptable if testing was more convenient. However, only ∼25% of men surveyed were 'very likely' to increase their level of HIV testing. Men delayed or avoided testing due to the slowness in obtaining results and if they believed they had not put themselves at risk.

conclusionsAn increase in HIV testing alone is unlikely to reduce HIV incidence substantially in NSW gay men- however, the relatively high testing levels need to continue to prevent an increase in HIV infections. In jurisdictions with lower levels of HIV testing, increases in testing coverage and frequency are likely to have a larger impact. Successful treatment as prevention interventions will require increases in testing rates; such increases would be acceptable to gay men in NSW but only if more convenient testing and rapid communication of results were available.

Indexed as

AdultData CollectionHIVHIV InfectionsHomosexuality, MaleHumansIncidenceMaleModels, BiologicalNew South WalesRisk-TakingSexual BehaviorSexual Partners

Identifiers

PMID23457470
PMCPMC3574096
OpenAlexW2017055676

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.