Evaluating an Innovative HIV Self-Testing Service With Web-Based, Real-Time Counseling Provided by an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot (HIVST-Chatbot) in Increasing HIV Self-Testing Use Among Chinese Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for a Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Counseling support for HIV self-testing (HIVST) users is essential to ensure support and linkage to care among men who have sex with men (MSM). An HIVST service with web-based real-time instruction, pretest, and posttest counseling provided by trained administrators (HIVST-OIC) was developed by previous projects. Although the HIVST-OIC was highly effective in increasing HIVST uptake and the proportion of HIVST users receiving counseling along with testing, it required intensive resources to implement and sustain. The service capacity of HIVST-OIC cannot meet the increasing demands of HIVST.

Objective

This randomized controlled trial primarily aims to establish whether HIVST-chatbot, an innovative HIVST service with web-based real-time instruction and counseling pr

SUBMITTER: Chen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10365592 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature