Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
AIDS and Behavior
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 9/2019

Open Access 01-09-2019 | Human Immunodeficiency Virus | Substantive Review

The Effectiveness of Social Marketing Interventions to Improve HIV Testing Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Systematic Review

Authors: Lisa McDaid, Julie Riddell, Gemma Teal, Nicola Boydell, Nicky Coia, Paul Flowers

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 9/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

HIV testing is central to biomedical HIV prevention, but testing among men who have sex with men remains suboptimal. We evaluated effectiveness of mass media and communication interventions to increase HIV testing and explored patterns between study type, internal validity and intervention effectiveness for the first time. Five databases were searched for articles published between 2009 and 2016 using standard MeSH terms. Eligible studies were quality appraised using standard checklists for risk of bias. Data were extracted and synthesised narratively. Nineteen studies met inclusion criteria; 11 were cross-sectional/non-comparative studies, four were pre/post or interrupted time series, three were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and one was a case study. Risk of bias was high. Five cross-sectional (two graded as high internal validity, one medium and two low) and one RCT (medium validity) reported increased HIV testing. Further work is required to develop and evaluate interventions to increase frequency and maintenance of HIV testing.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Footnotes
1
The third, Darrow et al. [16], was not included because it evaluated an intervention relating to syphilis rather than HIV.
 
Literature
1.
Brown AE, Kirwan PD, Chau C, Khawam J, Gill ON, Delpech VC. Towards elimination of HIV transmission, AIDS and HIV-related deaths in the UK–2017 report. London: Public Health England; 2017.
2.
May M, Gompels M, Delpech V, Porter K, Post F, Johnson M, et al. Impact of late diagnosis and treatment on life expectancy in people with HIV-1: UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (UK CHIC) Study. BMJ. 2011;343:d6016.CrossRef
3.
Nakagawa F, Lodwick RK, Smith CJ, Smith R, Cambiano V, Lundgren JD, et al. Projected life expectancy of people with HIV according to timing of diagnosis. AIDS. 2012;26(3):335–43.CrossRef
4.
BASHH. Recommendations for testing for sexually transmitted infections in men-who have sex-with-men. London: BASHH; 2014.
5.
McDaid LM, Aghaizu A, Frankis J, Riddell J, Nardone A, Mercey D, et al. Frequency of HIV testing among gay and bisexual men in the UK: implications for HIV prevention. HIV Med. 2016;17(9):683–93.CrossRef
6.
Knussen C, Flowers P, McDaid LM. Factors associated with recency of HIV testing amongst men residing in Scotland who have sex with men. AIDS Care. 2014;26(3):297–303.CrossRef
7.
Witzel TC, Melendez-Torres GJ, Hickson F, Weatherburn P. HIV testing history and preferences for future tests among gay men, bisexual men and other MSM in England: results from a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2016;6(9):e011372.CrossRef
8.
National Institute for Health Care Excellence. HIV testing: increasing uptake among people who may have undiagnosed HIV (Evidence Review). London: National Institute for Health Care Excellence; 2015.
9.
10.
Carmona C, O’Rourke D. HIV testing: increasing uptake among people who may have undiagnosed HIV: Evidence review on:The most effective ways to increase the uptake of HIV testing to reduce undiagnosed HIV among people who may have been exposed to it. In: guidelines N, editor.: NICE; 2015.
11.
Kasting ML, Cox AD, Cox D, Fife KH, Katz BP, Zimet GD. The effects of HIV testing advocacy messages on test acceptance: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Med. 2014;12(1):204.CrossRef
12.
Uhrig JD, Davis KC, Fraze J, Goetz J, Rupert D. Efficacy of an HIV testing campaign’s messages for African American women. Health Mark Q. 2012;29(2):117–29.CrossRef
13.
Hastings G. Social marketing: Why should the devil have all the best tunes?. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2007.
14.
Guy R, Goller J, Leslie D, Thorpe R, Grierson J, Batrouney C, et al. No increase in HIV or sexually transmissible infection testing following a social marketing campaign among men who have sex with men. J Epidemiol Commun Health. 2009;63(5):391–6.CrossRef
15.
McOwan A, Gilleece Y, Chislett L, Mandalia S. Can targeted HIV testing campaigns alter health-seeking behaviour? AIDS Care. 2002;14(3):385–90.CrossRef
16.
Darrow WW, Biersteker S. Short-term impact evaluation of a social marketing campaign to prevent syphilis among men who have sex with men. Am J Public Health. 2008;98(2):337–43.CrossRef
17.
National Institute for Health Care Excellence. NICE Process and Methods Guides. Methods for the Development of NICE Public Health Guidance. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2012.
18.
Brady M, Nardone A, Buenaventura E, Qureshi F, Edwardes D, Kelly P, et al. Home HIV sampling linked to national HIV testing campaigns: a novel approach to improve HIV diagnosis. HIV Med. 2014;15:7–8.CrossRef
19.
Hickson F, Tomlin K, Hargreaves J, Bonell C, Reid D, Weatherburn P. Internet-based cohort study of HIV testing over 1 year among men who have sex with men living in England and exposed to a social marketing intervention promoting testing. Sex Transm Infect. 2015;91(1):24–30.CrossRef
20.
James C. National HIV testing week: how ambitious expansion is being achieved through widening stakeholder engagement. HIV Med. 2015;16:54–5.
21.
West R, Okecha E, Forbes K. Keeping, “app” to date: using geolocation apps to signpost to local sexual health services. Sex Transm Infect. 2015;91:A32–3.CrossRef
22.
Flowers P, McDaid LM, Knussen C. Exposure and impact of a mass media campaign targeting sexual health amongst Scottish men who have sex with men: an outcome evaluation. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:737.CrossRef
23.
Hilliam A, Fraser LLT. HIV wake-up campaign evaluation. Scotland: NHS; 2011.
24.
Chiasson MA, Shaw FS, Humberstone M, Hirshfield S, Hartel D. Increased HIV disclosure three months after an online video intervention for men who have sex with men (MSM). AIDS Care. 2009;21(9):1081–9.CrossRef
25.
Erausquin JT, Duan N, Grusky O, Swanson A, Kerrone D, Rudy ET. Increasing the reach of HIV testing to young Latino MSM: results of a pilot study integrating outreach and services. J Health Care Poor Underserv. 2009;20(3):756–65.CrossRef
26.
Hirshfield S, Chiasson MA, Joseph H, Scheinmann R, Johnson WD, Remien RH, et al. An online randomized controlled trial evaluating hiv prevention digital media interventions for men who have sex with men. PLoS ONE. 2012;7(10):e46252.CrossRef
27.
Solorio R, Norton-Shelpuk P, Forehand M, Montano D, Stern J, Aguirre J, et al. Tu Amigo Pepe: evaluation of a multi-media marketing campaign that targets young latino immigrant msm with hiv testing messages. AIDS Behav. 2016;20(9):1973–88.CrossRef
28.
Thackeray R, Keller H, Messenger Heilbronner J, Lee Dellinger LK. Social Marketing’s unique contribution to mental health stigma reduction and hiv testing: two case studies. Health Promot Pract. 2011;12(2):172–7.CrossRef
29.
Pedrana A, Hellard M, Guy R, El-Hayek C, Gouillou M, Asselin J, et al. Stop the drama downunder: a social marketing campaign increases hiv/sexually transmitted infection knowledge and testing in australian gay men. Sex Transm Dis. 2012;39(8):651–8.CrossRef
30.
Wilkinson AL, Pedrana AE, El-Hayek C, Vella A, Asselin J, Batrouney C, et al. The impact of a social marketing campaign on hiv and sexually transmissible infection testing among men who have sex with men in Australia. Sex Transm Dis. 2016;43(1):49–56.CrossRef
31.
Gilbert M, Cook D, Steinberg M, Kwag M, Robert W, Doupe G, et al. Targeting screening and social marketing to increase detection of acute HIV infection in men who have sex with men in Vancouver. British Columbia AIDS. 2013;27(16):2649–54.PubMed
32.
Blas MM, Alva IE, Carcamo CP, Cabello R, Goodreau SM, Kimball AM, et al. Effect of an online video-based intervention to increase HIV testing in men who have sex with men in Peru. PLoS ONE. 2010;5(5):e10448.CrossRef
33.
Prati G, Mazzoni D, Cicognani E, Albanesi C, Zani B. Evaluating the persuasiveness of an hiv mass communication campaign using gain-framed messages and aimed at creating a superordinate identity. Health Commun. 2016;31(9):1097–104.CrossRef
34.
Tang W, Han L, Best J, Zhang Y, Mollan K, Kim J, et al. Crowdsourcing HIV test promotion videos: a noninferiority randomized controlled trial in China. Clin Infect Dis. 2016;62(11):1436–42.CrossRef
35.
Flowers P, Riddell J, Boydell N, Teal G, Coia N, McDaid L. What are the ‘active ingredients’ of interventions targeting HIV testing amongst gay men and other men who have sex with men and how might they work?. in preparation.
36.
Riddell J, Flowers P, Boydell N, Teal G, Coia N, McDaid LM. A visual and Social Marketing anaysis of Social Marketing interventions to increase HIV testing within Men who have sex with Men. in preparation.
37.
Craig P, Cooper C, Gunnell D, Haw S, Lawson K, Macintyre S, et al. Using natural experiments to evaluate population health interventions: new Medical Research Council guidance. J Epidemiol Commun Health. 2012;66(12):1182–6.CrossRef
38.
Stead M, Gordon R, Angus K, McDermott L. A systematic review of social marketing effectiveness. Health Educat. 2007;107(2):126–91.CrossRef
39.
Gold J, Pedrana AE, Sacks-Davis R, Hellard ME, Chang S, Howard S, et al. A systematic examination of the use of online social networking sites for sexual health promotion. BMC Public Health. 2011;11(1):583.CrossRef
40.
Witzel TC, Guise A, Nutland W, Bourne A. It starts with me: privacy concerns and stigma in the evaluation of a Facebook health promotion intervention. Sex Health. 2016;13(3):228–33.CrossRef
41.
Flowers P, Estcourt C, Sonnenberg P, Burns F. HIV testing intervention development among men who have sex with men in the developed world. Sex Health. 2017;14(1):80–8.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
The Effectiveness of Social Marketing Interventions to Improve HIV Testing Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Systematic Review
Authors
Lisa McDaid
Julie Riddell
Gemma Teal
Nicola Boydell
Nicky Coia
Paul Flowers
Publication date
01-09-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 9/2019
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02507-7

Other articles of this Issue 9/2019

AIDS and Behavior 9/2019 Go to the issue

Original Paper

Self-Reported Long-Term Antiretroviral Adherence: A Longitudinal Study Among HIV Infected Pregnant Women in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Original Paper

Antiretroviral Treatment Interruptions Among Black and Latina Transgender Women Living with HIV: Characterizing Co-occurring, Multilevel Factors Using the Gender Affirmation Framework

Original Paper

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Efficacy of a Brief Setting-Based and Theory-Based Intervention Promoting Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Among Heterosexual Male Sexually Transmitted Disease Patients in China

Original Paper

Facilitators and Barriers to Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and Retention in Care Among Adolescents Living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia: A Mixed Methods Study

Original Paper

Health Education Training Embedded in a Microfinance Platform Associated with Safer Sexual Behavior in Haitian Women

Substantive Review

A Systematic Review of eHealth Interventions Addressing HIV/STI Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Heart Failure Video

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Watch now

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits