Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37607814›Full record

Trial reportSexually transmitted infections2023

Understanding experiences of potential harm among MSM (cis and trans) using HIV self-testing in the SELPHI randomised controlled trial in England and Wales: a mixed-methods study.

T Charles Witzel, Emily Jay Nicholls, Leanne McCabe, Peter Weatherburn, Sheena McCormack, Christopher Bonell, Mitzy Gafos, Fiona C Lampe, Andrew Speakman, David Dunn and 7 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Sexually transmitted infections, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
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

17 authors.

T Charles WitzelDepartment of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK c.witzel@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0003-4262-261X
Emily Jay NichollsInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2061-8361
Leanne McCabeMedical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK.
Peter WeatherburnSocial & Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Sheena McCormackMedical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7829-1325
Christopher BonellDepartment of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Mitzy GafosGlobal Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7894-1498
Fiona C LampeInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
Andrew SpeakmanInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
David DunnMedical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK.
Denise WardMedical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK.
Andrew N PhillipsInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
Roger PebodyNAM, London, UK.
Michelle M GabrielMedical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK.
Yolanda Collaco-MoraesMedical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK.
Alison J RodgerInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
Fiona M BurnsInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9105-2441

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_UU_00004/03
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe potential of HIV self-testing (HIVST) to cause harm is a concern hindering widespread implementation. The aim of this paper is to understand the relationship between HIVST and harm in SELPHI (An HIV

methods10 111 cis and trans men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited online (geolocation social/sexual networking apps, social media), aged 16+, reporting previous anal intercourse and resident in England or Wales were first randomised 60/40 to baseline HIVST (baseline testing, BT) or not (no baseline testing, nBT) (randomisation A). BT participants reporting negative baseline test, sexual risk at 3 months and interest in further HIVST were randomised to three-monthly HIVST (repeat testing, RT) or not (no repeat testing, nRT) (randomisation B). All received an exit survey collecting data on harms (to relationships, well-being, false results or being pressured/persuaded to test). Nine participants reporting harm were interviewed in-depth about their experiences in an exploratory substudy; qualitative data were analysed narratively.

resultsBaseline: predominantly cis MSM, 90% white, 88% gay, 47% university educated and 7% current/former pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users. Final survey response rate was: nBT=26% (1056/4062), BT=45% (1674/3741), nRT=41% (471/1147), RT=50% (581/1161).Harms were rare and reported by 4% (n=138/3691) in exit surveys, with an additional two false positive results captured in other study surveys. 1% reported harm to relationships and to well-being in BT, nRT and RT combined. In all arms combined, being pressured or persuaded to test was reported by 1% (n=54/3678) and false positive results in 0.7% (n=34/4665).Qualitative analysis revealed harms arose from the kit itself (technological harms), the intervention (intervention harms) or from the social context of the participant (socially emergent harms). Intervention and socially emergent harms did not reduce HIVST acceptability, whereas technological harms did. DISCUSSION: HIVST harms were rare but strategies to link individuals experiencing harms with psychosocial support should be considered for HIVST scale-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN20312003.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsSexual and Gender MinoritiesEnglandHIVHomosexuality, MaleHumansMaleSelf-TestingWalesDiagnostic Screening ProgramsHIVHomosexuality, Male

Identifiers

PMID37607814
PMCPMC10715485

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.