ArticleBMJ open2024
Qualitative evaluation of digital vending machines to improve access to STI and HIV testing in South West England: using a Person-Based Approach.
Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Patient and public involvement in HIV research: a mapping review and development of an online evidence map.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2024Pooled it
- Factors influencing HIV testing choices among Chinese undergraduates: insights from a discrete choice experiment.BMC public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo report the development, implementation, acceptability and feasibility of vending machines offering HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing kits.
designA qualitative study using the Person-Based Approach with patient and public involvement workshops and stakeholder involvement and interviews with machine users, sexual health service (SHS) staff, venue staff and local authority sexual health commissioners. Transcripts were analysed thematically.
settingBristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).
participants15 machine users, 5 SHS staff, 3 venue staff and 3 local authority commissioners.
interventionFour vending machines dispensing free HIV self-testing and STI self-sampling kits in publicly accessible venues across BNSSG were introduced to increase access to testing for groups at higher risk of HIV and STI infection who are less likely to access SHS clinic testing services (young people, people from black communities, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men).
resultsMachine users reported the service was convenient, easy to use and accessible; however, concerns regarding privacy related to machine placement within the venues and issues of maintenance were raised. Promotional material was inclusive and informative; however, awareness of the service through the promotional campaign was limited. Vending machines were acceptable to venue staff once clear processes for their management were agreed with the SHS. SHS staff identified challenges with the implementation of the service related to the limited involvement of the whole SHS team in the planning and development.
conclusionsThe codeveloped vending machine service was acceptable, addressing some barriers to testing. Resources and protected staff time are needed to support greater involvement of the whole SHS team and service providers in venues. Adopting a similarly robust coproduction approach to the implementation of the machines could avoid the challenges reported. The placement of the machines to assure users privacy and repeated, targeted promotion could encourage service use among target groups.
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Registered trials
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