HIV Oral Testing Infographic Experiment (HOTIE)

In the United States, approximately 1.1 million persons are living with HIV. Despite novel pharmacological breakthroughs, comprehensive models of health care, and targeted HIV testing initiatives, over 160,000 persons are still unaware of their HIV serostatus. Emerging adult, sexual minority, men of color are disproportionately affected. Premised on the National AIDS Strategy's focus on identifying new HIV infections through increased HIV testing, the purpose of this formative pilot study is to develop and test an integrated HIV self-testing strategy that utilizes a simplicity-model approach to HIV self-testing in emerging adult sexual minority men of color.

The overall study will focus on: (a) understanding facilitators and barriers to HIV self-testing among emerging adult MSM, (b) designing a HIV self-testing infographic that utilizes a simplicity model, (c) finalizing the HIV self-testing infographic with input from a leadership group of HIV community members, (d) conducting a pilot clinical trial with 300 emerging adult (ages 18-34), sexual minority, men of color to test if a collaboratively-designed HIV self-testing infographic can facilitate accurate and effective understanding of how to self-test for HIV when compared to paper-based, HIV self-testing information.

By conducting this study, we will gain beneficial insights necessary for presenting HIV self-testing instructions in a meaningful, relevant, and comprehensible way. The results of this pilot study have the potential to inform strategies regarding how self-testing instructions can be worded or visually presented in order to break both literacy and language barriers that affect testing utilization and results accuracy.