N/A
N=123
A New APPROACH to HIV Testing: Adaptation of POCT for Pharmacies to Reduce Risk and Optimize Access to Care in HIV
HIV Infections
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03210701 ↗Enrolled (actual)
123
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
May 2020
Primary outcome: Primary: Patients Requesting a Rapid HIV Test at a Community Pharmacy Study Site — 123 Participants
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- A HIV POCT program adapted for & provided by community pharmacists (Other)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Primary completion
- Sep 2017
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Patients Requesting a Rapid HIV Test at a Community Pharmacy Study Site |
123 | — |
| PRIMARY Number of Reactive Test Results |
1 | — |
| PRIMARY Total Time Required for the HIV Testing Process |
30.4 | — |
| PRIMARY Participant Satisfaction With Testing Experience |
88.66; 96.93; 83.14; 89.42; 80.35; 94.87 | — |
| PRIMARY Participants Self-identified HIV Risk Behaviours |
56; 6; 8; 2; 89 | — |
Summary
An estimated 21% of Canadians with HIV are unaware of their infection. There is a need to improve access to HIV testing to detect infections earlier so individuals can access care early and take steps to prevent transmission to others. Barriers to HIV testing include limited access or reluctance to go to traditional testing sites (doctor's offices and sexually transmitted infection clinics), and the lengthy wait time to receive test results from standard laboratory-based HIV testing (usually 1-2 weeks). These deterrents are particularly significant for those at highest risk of infection, who may be socially marginalized or stigmatized. In rural areas, HIV testing may only be available through doctor's offices and hospitals, yet many Canadians do not have access to a family physician. Pharmacists are among the most trusted and accessible healthcare providers, and are well positioned to improve access to HIV testing. Point of care tests for HIV are easy to administer and results are available within minutes, making them ideal for use in the community pharmacy setting. Point of care testing (POCT) by pharmacists can ensure individuals receive their test results, and facilitate timely linkages to care and treatment. This adaptation grant will look at factors influencing the acceptability and feasibility of pharmacist-provided rapid POCT for HIV in two Canadian provinces, including pharmacies in both urban and rural areas. The effectiveness of pharmacist-delivered POCT will be considered from a variety of perspectives including people living with or at risk of HIV, as well as pharmacists as the service providers.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Consistent with current testing guidelines and the National HIV POCT Action Plan HIV testing will be offered to anyone age 18+ who requests a test and is not known to be HIV+.
Exclusion Criteria
- Anyone unwilling to sign the consent form will be unable to participate in the study or receive HIV POCT.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03210701). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.