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Incentivizing HIV/STI Testing: A Systematic Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Suboptimal HIV/STI testing uptake has a profound impact on morbidity and mortality. Incentives have been effective in other areas of medicine and may improve HIV/STI testing uptake rates. This study reviewed the effects of incentives on HIV/STI testing uptake. A systematic search of seven databases was undertaken. Testing uptake was defined as test implementation and/or test result retrieval. Incentives were defined as monetary or non-monetary rewards or free-of-charge testing vouchers. Seven studies were included. All seven studies demonstrated higher rates of uptake in an incentivized group. Incentives offered at a non-clinical setting demonstrated more significant differences in uptake rates compared to incentives offered at a clinical setting. Incentivizing HIV/STI testing uptake, especially testing at a non-clinical setting, may be a useful tool to modify health behavior. Further research is needed to understand how incentives could be an effective component within a comprehensive HIV/STI control strategy.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support was contributed by an NIH Fogarty K01 Award (US NIH 1K01TW008200-01A1), IDSA Medical Scholar Program, and Harvard Medical School Scholars in Medicine Office. Special thanks to UNC Project-China and Guangdong Provincial STD Control Center for administrative support.

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Correspondence to Ramon Lee.

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Lee, R., Cui, R.R., Muessig, K.E. et al. Incentivizing HIV/STI Testing: A Systematic Review of the Literature. AIDS Behav 18, 905–912 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0588-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0588-8

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