ArticleEClinicalMedicine2021
HIV self-testing with digital supports as the new paradigm: A systematic review of global evidence (2010-2021).
Article in EClinicalMedicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 64 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
64 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Evidence on Digital HIV Self-Testing From Accuracy to Impact: Updated Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Counseling Supporting HIV Self-Testing and Linkage to Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2024Pooled it
- How much does HIV self-testing cost in low and middle income countries? A systematic review of evidence from economic studies.Frontiers in public health · 2023Pooled it
- The Practice and Potential Role of HIV Self-testing in China: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2022Pooled it
- Examining the Use of HIV Self-Testing to Support PrEP Delivery: a Systematic Literature Review.Current HIV/AIDS reports · 2022Pooled it
- mHealth Interventions to Promote HIV Self-Testing Among Key Populations: A Systematic Review of Effectiveness and Implementation Outcomes.Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS CarePooled it
- Implementation and User Satisfaction of a Comprehensive Telemedicine Approach for SARS-CoV-2 Self-Sampling: Monocentric, Prospective, Interventional, Open-Label, Controlled, Two-Arm Feasibility Study.JMIR formative research · 2024Trial
- Findings from the Tushirikiane mobile health (mHealth) HIV self-testing pragmatic trial with refugee adolescents and youth living in informal settlements in Kampala, Uganda.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2023Trial
- HIV self-testing and the global diagnostic gap: Addressing a decade of missed opportunity.PLoS medicine · 2026Article
- Acceptability, Usability, and Clinical Appropriateness of an AI-Powered Tool for Linkage to HIV Services After HIV Self-Testing in South Africa: Mixed Methods Evaluation.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Optimizing Veteran-Facing Materials for Vending Machine-Dispensed HIV Self-Testing: Formative Qualitative Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Review
- High Uptake of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Recruited via Geosocial Networking Applications and Community Outreach in Paris, France.AIDS and behavior · 2026Article
- Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adherence and HIV Self-Testing App Among Women in the South Bronx: 12-Month Usability, Acceptability, and Feasibility Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Integrating Mobile Text Messaging Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Navigation Services Into a Home HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Self-Testing Program in the United States: Formative Work and Pilot Implementation Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Evaluation of the service quality and diagnostic performance of syphilis self-test kits purchased from E-commerce platforms in China.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Use of Vending Machines to Deliver Oral Rapid HIV Self-Tests to Veterans: Protocol for a Pilot Study.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Digital health promotion strategies to increase HIV testing uptake among key populations: a scoping review.Cadernos de saude publica · 2026Article
- Self-test for HIV infection diagnosis: educational technology development and validity.Revista brasileira de enfermagem · 2026Article
- Mapping of sex work hotspots to guide targeted HIV prevention: Evidence from eight Ukrainian cities.PloS one · 2026Article
4 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHIV self-testing (HIVST) is recommended by the WHO as an innovative strategy to reach UNAIDS targets to end HIV by 2030. HIVST with digital supports is defined as the use of digital interventions (e.g., website-based, social media, mobile HIVST applications (apps), text messaging (SMS), digital vending machines (digital VMs)) to improve the efficiency and impact of HIVST. HIVST deployment and integration in health services is an emerging priority. We conducted a systematic review aiming to close the gap in evidence that summarizes the impact of digitally supported HIVST and to inform policy recommendations.
methodsWe searched PubMed and Embase for articles and abstracts on HIVST with digital supports published during the period February 1st, 2010 to June 15th, 2021, following Cochrane guidelines and PRISMA methodology. We assessed feasibility, acceptability, preference, and impact outcomes across all populations and study designs. Metrics reported were willingness to use HIVST, preferences for HIVST delivery, proportion of first-time testers, HIVST uptake, HIVST kit return rate, and linkage to care. Heterogeneity of the interventions and reported metrics precluded us from conducting a meta-analysis.
findings46 studies were narratively synthesized, of which 72% were observational and 28% were RCTs. Half of all studies (54%, 25/46) assessed web-based innovations (e.g., study websites, videos, chatbots), followed by social media (26%, 12/46), HIVST-specific apps (7%, 3/46), SMS (9%, 4/46), and digital VMs (4%, 2/46). Web-based innovations were found to be acceptable (77-97%), preferred over in-person and hybrid options by more first-time testers (47-48%), highly feasible (93-95%), and were overall effective in supporting linkage to care (53-100%). Social media and app-based innovations also had high acceptability (87-95%) and linkage to care proportions (80-100%). SMS innovations increased kit return rates (54-94%) and HIVST uptake among hard-to-reach groups. Finally, digital VMs were highly acceptable (54-93%), and HIVST uptake was six times greater when using digital VMs compared to distribution by community workers.
interpretationHIVST with digital supports was deemed feasible, acceptable, preferable, and was shown to increase uptake, engage first-time testers and hard-to-reach populations, and successfully link participants to treatment. Findings pave the way for greater use of HIVST interventions with digital supports globally.
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Registered trials
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.