Exploring the Use of “Nudges” to Improve HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

Bibliographic Data

ID8359247
AuthorsEi T Aung (0000-0002-2560-3233, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, corresponding author), Christopher K Fairley (0000-0001-9081-1664, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre), Eric P F Chow (0000-0003-1766-0657, The University of Melbourne), David Lee (0000-0003-0182-9796, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre), Kate Maddaford (0000-0001-5213-1289, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre), Rebecca Wigan (0000-0003-4094-0833, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre), Daniel Read (0000-0001-6672-9310, University of Warwick), Umar Taj (0000-0003-2797-6110, University of Warwick), Ivo Vlaev (0000-0002-3218-0144, University of Warwick), Jason J Ong (0000-0001-5784-7403, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre)
Year2022
Volume51
Issue5
Pages2641-2650
Publication date2022-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchives of Sexual Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0004-0002 • E-ISSN: 1573-2800
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10508-022-02321-8
PMID35708818
OpenAlexW4283012572
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited30

Behavioral economics and its applied branch “nudging” can improve individual choices in various health care settings. However, there is a paucity of research using nudges to improve regular testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study examined which reminder system and message type men who have sex with men (MSM) preferred to remind them to undergo regular 3-monthly HIV and STI testing. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among MSM attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia between 13 January and 5 March 2020, exploring the preferred method of reminder and framing of the message. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. A total of 309 responses were received. The majority of the participants (90%) preferred short messaging service (SMS) as the reminder method for HIV/STI testing compared to other types (e.g., email or instant messaging). More than a third of the participants (45%) showed a preference for a neutrally framed reminder message (Your next check-up is now due. Please phone for an appointment), while one-third (35%) preferred a personalized message (Hi [first name], you are due for your next check-up. Please phone for an appointment). Younger men were more likely to favor positive framed messages than older men who favored neutrally framed messages ( p

Descriptive statistics · Environmental health · Family medicine · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Logistic regression · Men who have sex with men · Phone · Population · Public health · Reproductive health · Syphilis · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Privacy, Security, and Data Protection · Psychology · Social Psychology