scholarly journals 841. Survey of Current HIV and HCV Policies and Practices in Prisons and Jails Serving High-Risk Geographic Hotspots

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S511-S512
Author(s):  
Sugi Min ◽  
Jimin Shin ◽  
Brendan Jacka ◽  
Lauri Bazerman ◽  
Ank E Nijhawan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Linkage To Care ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Hcv Testing

Abstract Background The goal of the U.S. “Ending the HIV Epidemic” (EHE) initiative is to reduce new HIV infections by 90% within 10 years by focusing resources on high-risk geographic “hotspots.” (Figure 1). The criminal justice system bears a disproportionate burden of HIV, yet EHE lacks specific mention of correctional settings for intervention. We conducted a survey study of current HIV and HCV care practices in prisons and jails serving EHE hotspots. Figure 1 Priority jurisdictions for the “Ending the HIV Epidemic” Initiative which include counties, rural states, and territories with the highest HIV burden, together accounting for more than 50 percent of new HIV diagnoses in recent years. Source: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/endhiv/jurisdictions.html Methods An online survey on HIV/HCV testing, prevention, treatment, and surveillance was sent to Medical Directors or designees at 26 state prison systems and 37 county or city jails serving EHE hotspots in Spring 2021. Results Twenty-five responses were received (10/26 prisons, 15/37 jails) for an overall response rate of 40%. Routine HIV testing, defined as testing offered to all persons without known infection, was conducted in 76% of facilities (9/10 prisons, 10/15 jails), with policies of “opt-out” in 44% (5/10 prisons, 6/15 jails), “opt-in” in 20% (2/10 prisons, 3/15 jails), and “mandatory” in 12% of facilities (2/10 prisons, 1/15 jails). Most facilities (80%) provided HIV testing upon inmate request. For HIV prevention, education programs and/or treatment for opioid-use disorder was available in 76% of facilities, but PrEP and condoms were only available in 24% and 16%, respectively. All facilities reported providing antiretroviral therapy and 88% provided a short (3- to 30-day) supply upon discharge. Routine testing for HCV was conducted in 52% of facilities (7/10 prisons, 6/15 jails), with policies of “opt-out” in 36% (5/10 prisons, 4/15 jails), “opt-in” in 12% (1/10 prisons, 2/15 jails), and “mandatory” in one prison. Most facilities (80%) provided HCV testing upon inmate request. In 8/10 prisons and 6/15 jails, HCV treatment with direct-acting antivirals was continued if initiated prior to incarceration. Treatment for new diagnoses of HCV was less common (16-44%) and depended on expected length of incarceration. Conclusion In prisons and jails serving HIV “hotspot” regions, critical opportunities for improved HIV and HCV testing, treatment, prevention, and linkage-to-care services remain. Given these findings, we support the broader inclusion of the justice system as an integral component of the EHE initiative. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals 964. Opt-Out HIV- Hepatitis C (HCV) Testing at a Primary Care Resident Clinic in Columbia, SC: Who Gets Tested and Who Opts Out of Testing?

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S512-S512
Author(s):  
Jodian Pinkney ◽  
Divya Ahuja ◽  
Caroline Derrick ◽  
Martin Durkin
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Opting Out ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Primary Care Resident ◽  
Hcv Testing

Abstract Background South Carolina (SC) remains one of the most heavily affected states for both HIV and HCV infections. Males account for the majority of cases. Implementation of universal opt-out testing has improved screening rates but not much has been published describing the characteristics of those who opt out of testing. This becomes important as 10-50% of patients have opted out in previous studies. Methods Between February and August 2019, we conducted a quality improvement (QI) project which implemented opt- out HIV-HCV testing at a single primary care resident clinic in SC with the primary aim of increasing screening rates for HIV-HCV by 50%. Secondary aims included describing the demographic characteristics of the opt-out population. Persons were considered eligible for testing if they were between the ages of 18-65 years for HIV and 18-74 years for HCV. This was prior to the USPSTF 2020 guidelines which recommend HCV screening for adults aged 18-79 years. A retrospective chart review was used to obtain screening rates, opt status and demographic data. Logistic regression and the firth model were used to determine linkages between categorical variables. We present 3-month data. Results 1253 patients were seen between May 1, 2019- July 31, 2019 (See Table 1). 985 (78%) were eligible for HIV testing. 482 (49%) were tested for HIV as a result of our QI project and all tests were negative. 212 (22%) of eligible patients opted out of HIV testing. Males were 1.59 times more likely to opt out (p=0.008). (see Table 2,3) Regarding HCV, 1136 (90.7%) were deemed eligible for testing. 503 (44%) were tested for HCV as a result of our QI project. 12 (2.4%) were HCV antibody positive with viremia. 11 (90%) of antibody positive with viremia cases were in the 1945-1965 birth cohort (see Table 4). 244 (21%) opted out of HCV testing. Males and persons without a genitourinary chief complaint were more likely to opt out (p=0.02). Table 1: Demographic characteristics of the population seen at the internal medicine resident clinic between May- July 2019 Table 2: Relationship between demographic variables and the odds of being tested for HIV or HCV within the last 12 months. Logistic Model. Table 3: Relationship between demographic variables and the odds of opting out of testing for HIV or HCV. Firth Model. Conclusion Although implementation of routine HIV-HCV opt-out testing led to increased screening rates for both HIV and HCV, roughly 1 in 5 eligible patients chose to opt out of testing. Males were more likely to opt out despite accounting for the majority of newly diagnosed HCV cases. Future studies investigating drivers for opting-out in the male population could improve testing and assist with early diagnosis. Table 4: Characteristics of patients newly diagnosed with HCV positive with viremia. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Development and Evaluation of a Physician-Targeted Video to Promote HIV Screening

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 922-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monisha Arya ◽  
Haley G. Marek ◽  
Rachel E. Marren ◽  
Vagish Hemmige ◽  
Richard L. Street ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Hiv Screening ◽  
Primary Care Clinics ◽  
Video Intervention ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Analyze Data

Introduction. Despite national recommendations, routine opt-out HIV testing has not been widely adopted by physicians. Guided by previous research on physician barriers to HIV testing, we developed a physician-targeted video to promote routine opt-out HIV screening. The objective of this study was to evaluate this video intervention. Methods. From June to July 2016, physicians in two primary care clinics completed an online survey prior to and after watching the video. Survey items assessed acceptability of the video and HIV testing knowledge, attitudes, and intention to screen. Descriptive statistics were generated to analyze data. Results. Of the 53 participants, 90% liked or strongly liked the video. Pre- to postvideo, significant improvements were seen in the knowledge of national HIV screening recommendations (45.3% to 67.9%; p = .010) and of the proportion of unaware Houstonians living with HIV (22.6% to 75.5%; p < .001). Participant beliefs about the likelihood of patients accepting HIV testing increased from 47.2% to 84.9% pre- to postvideo ( p < .001). Intention to screen did not change; participants had high intentions pre- and postvideo. Conclusions. Our study found that a video is an acceptable HIV testing promotion medium for physicians. Our video improved physician HIV testing knowledge and attitudes, overcoming key barriers to HIV testing.

Greater Acceptance of Routine HIV Testing (Opt-Out) by Patients Attending an Infectious Disease Unit in Spain

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 341-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Jover-Diaz ◽  
Jose-Maria Cuadrado ◽  
Mariano Matarranz ◽  
Elena Calabuig
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Linkage To Care ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Routine Procedure ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Routine Hiv Testing ◽  
Effectiveness Studies ◽  
Disease Unit ◽  
Serology Testing

Objective: Our objective was to determine attitudes and opinions of patients seen in our ID Unit on conducting HIV testing universally. Methods: The survey was conducted in patients between 18 and 65 years without known HIV infection. Requested information about the test was previous embodiment, reasons for rejection, opinion on the universal realization, benefits and/or drawbacks, possible test performance, and availability of results “test negative stigma.” Results: We surveyed 91 patients (54.9% males). Surprisingly, up to 18.7% of patients mistakenly believed that HIV testing is routinely performed without consent. A great majority (98.9%) felt that universal performance on the test would benefit mainly in early diagnosing and/or preventing transmission. Patients younger than 42 years were significantly more prone to doing the test as a routine procedure. Only 4 (4.4%) patients did not participate because they believed they were “not infected.” A vast majority (80.5%) of respondents would prefer to have results within the first 24 hours. In addition, 20.7% would have a problem with confidentiality if HIV serology testing was done. Conclusions: In summary, the vast majority (95.6%) of the surveyed patients had a fair opinion about universal HIV testing. Only 4 patients (4.4%) would not consent to HIV testing (because of low-risk perception). Availability of rapid HIV tests can facilitate fast result delivery, facilitating linkage to care. Considering favorable patients' opinion, recent opt-out screening recommendations, highest HIV prevalence in admitted patients, and cost-effectiveness, studies favor universal HIV testing.

scholarly journals 307. Overcoming Hepatitis C Elimination Challenges in the Coachella Valley through the Collaboration of Linkage to Care, a Managed Care Organization, and a Federally Qualified Health Center

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S164-S165
Author(s):  
Nicolette Duong ◽  
Lindsey Valenzuela ◽  
Tulika Singh ◽  
David Morris ◽  
Brian Hodgkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Managed Care ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Health Center ◽  
Linkage To Care ◽  
Care Organization ◽  
Coachella Valley ◽  
Federally Qualified Health Center ◽  
Managed Care Organization ◽  
Hcv Testing

Abstract Background Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.4 million Americans have the hepatitis C virus (HCV). New cases increased by 14% from 2014 to 2016 in California with 400,000 infections, 4,000 infections in the Coachella Valley and about 50% unaware of their diagnosis. A barrier to elimination is the lack of rapid screenings and linkage to care (LTC) of infected individuals into an integrated system. Thus, we developed a program at the Hepatitis Center of Excellence (HCE) where pharmacists in a managed care organization (MCO) provide opportunities to overcome these boundaries. The partnership of the MCO and federally qualified health center (FQHC) was established in 2017 to expand access to care to the HCV community. We anticipate that our program will eliminate HCV in the Coachella Valley by modeling past success in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and LTC at the FQHC through an interdisciplinary approach. Methods A single-center, retrospective analysis from January 2017 to December 2018 of HCV individuals was conducted at the pharmacist-led HCE in Palm Springs, California. The LTC team approached barriers through prompt free screenings and major advocacy. Pharmacists and specialty physicians collaborated to ensure rapid assessment, treatment initiation and completion, and sustained virologic response (SVR). The HCE has adapted the HIV testing and LTC model in hopes of achieving similar feats. From 2014 to 2018, 92,947 total HIV tests were performed with 90.2% of HIV-positive patients linked to care. HCV testing was then added to HIV screening and expanded to other testing sites. Results The first visit with a clinical pharmacist consists of education, reviewing lab tests, cost assistance, and providing treatment options. From 2017 to 2018, 169 of 172 HCV positive individuals (98.2%) achieved SVR by treatment completion. The HCV LTC program demonstrated a 3.8% increase in HCV testing from 2017 to 2018. Conclusion Pharmacist-led care for a large volume of HCV patients allows time for specialty physicians to manage more complex cases. The collaboration between the FQHC, MCO, and LTC team showed HCV elimination is possible based on high SVR rates. HCE is projecting successful linkages to care and continuous campaigning for individuals to be treated for HCV in the Coachella Valley. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Effect of a Mobile-Health Intervention (A-CHESS) on Hepatitis C Testing Uptake Among People with Opioid Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karli R Hochstatter ◽  
David H Gustafson Sr ◽  
Gina Landucci ◽  
Klaren Pe-Romashko ◽  
Olivia Cody ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Injection Equipment ◽  
Testing Uptake ◽  
Hcv Antibody ◽  
Hcv Testing

BACKGROUND The growing epidemic of opioid use disorder (OUD) and associated injection drug use has resulted in a surge of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Approximately half of persons with HCV infection are unaware of their HCV status. Improving HCV awareness and increasing screening among people with OUD is critical. A-CHESS is an evidence-based, smartphone-delivered relapse prevention system that has been implemented among people with OUD who are receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to improve long-term recovery. OBJECTIVE We incorporated HCV content and functionality into A-CHESS to (1) to characterize the HCV care continuum among people in early remission and receiving MAT for OUD and (2) determine whether incorporating HCV content and functionality into A-CHESS increases HCV testing. METHODS HCV intervention content, including dissemination of educational information, private messages tailored to individual’s stage of HCV care, and a public discussion forum, were implemented into the A-CHESS platform. Individuals with OUD were randomly assigned to receive MAT alone (control arm) or MAT + A-CHESS (experimental arm). Quarterly telephone interviews, conducted from baseline to month 24, assessed risk behaviors and HCV testing history. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess overall whether individuals who received A-CHESS were tested for HCV (including either antibody or RNA tested) at a higher rate than those in the control arm. To assess the effect of A-CHESS on subsets of individuals at highest risk for HCV, additional analyses examined the effect of the intervention among individuals who injected drugs and shared injection equipment. RESULTS Between April 2016 and April 2020, 416 individuals with OUD were enrolled. Overall, 44% of the study population was HCV-antibody positive, 30% were HCV-antibody negative, and 25% were considered untested at baseline. At month 24 there was no difference in HCV testing uptake between intervention and control participants overall. However, among the subset of 109 individuals who engaged in injection drug use, there was a slight trend towards increased HCV testing uptake among those who received A-CHESS (89% versus 85%; Hazard Ratio: 1.34; 95% CI: 0.87-2.05; P=.18), and a stronger trend was observed when focusing on the subset of 32 individuals who reported sharing injection equipment (87% versus 56%; Hazard Ratio: 2.92; 95% CI: 0.959-8.86; P=.059). CONCLUSIONS Incorporating HCV prevention and care information into A-CHESS may increase the uptake of HCV testing while preventing opioid relapse when implemented among populations who engage in high risk behaviors such as sharing contaminated injection equipment; however, studies that are powered to detect differences in HCV testing among high risk groups are needed. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02712034. Registered on 14 March 2016. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/12620

scholarly journals 1273. Routine Opt-out HIV Screening and Detection of HIV Infection Among Emergency Department Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S388-S388
Author(s):  
Nada Fadul ◽  
Ciarra Dortche ◽  
Richard Baltaro ◽  
Tim Reeder
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Linkage To Care ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Post Test

Abstract Background The Southeastern United States bears a disproportionate burden of HIV infection, accounting for nearly half of all new cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released routine opt-out testing recommendations in 2006. Our emergency department collaborated with our infectious diseases clinic (ECU-ID) to implement suggested guidelines among adults since March 2017. Methods Our primary aim was to implement routine, opt-out HIV testing in the Vidant Medical Center Emergency Department (ED) for patients between 18 and 65 years of age who have blood work completed, and have not had a test documented in the electronic medical record (EMR) in the last year. A secondary aim was to successfully link HIV-positive patients to care at ECU-ID or preferred clinic. Methods defining programmatic success included developing nurse directed opt-out ordering protocol, integrating testing into normal ED workflow, utilizing the existing EMR to prompt testing, and hiring a linkage coordinator to initiate post-test counseling and linkage-to-care. Results Since March 2, 2017, a total of 7,109 HIV tests were performed; an average of 592 monthly tests conducted compared with a previous average of 10 stat tests. Testing increased 5,820% compared with 2015. Of the 21 HIV-positive patients found, 16 were newly diagnosed. Among those newly diagnosed, 14 (87.5%) were linked to care; and among the five known positives, two (40%) were linked to care. Reasons why patients could not be linked included incarceration, refusal to link to care, and re-location. Conclusion Joined with the implementation of a routinized ED HIV testing program, a seamless process was developed to link persons found to be positive in the ED to HIV care services; therefore, establishing a systems-level prevention model. Future plans include expanding testing to adolescents and utilizing similar methods to integrate Hepatitis C testing. Disclosures All Authors. Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Grant Investigator, Grant recipient and Salary.

scholarly journals HBV and HCV test uptake and correlates among men who have sex with men in China: a nationwide cross-sectional online survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 502-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Fitzpatrick ◽  
Stephen W Pan ◽  
Weiming Tang ◽  
Wilson Guo ◽  
Joseph D Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hbv Vaccination ◽  
Young Msm ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hcv Testing

ObjectivesHepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cause substantial morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, including China. WHO guidelines recommend men who have sex with men (MSM) receive HBV and HCV screening. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of MSM in China who have HBV and HCV tested and identify correlates of test uptake.MethodsWe conducted an online cross-sectional survey of young MSM in China. Respondents were asked to report previous HBV and HCV testing, sociodemographic information, sexual risk factors for hepatitis infection, other STI testing and primary care physician (PCP) status. Associations were analysed by logistic regression.Results503 eligible MSM completed the survey. 41.0% (206/503) of MSM had HCV tested, and 38.2% (60/157) of MSM with no or uncertain HBV vaccination had HBV tested. In multivariate analysis, HCV testing was correlated with HBV testing (adjusted OR (aOR) 22.98, 95% CI 12.11 to 43.60), HIV testing (aOR 3.64, 95% CI 1.92 to 6.91), HIV-positive status (aOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.98) and having a PCP (aOR 2.40, 95% CI 1.44 to 3.98). Among MSM with no or uncertain HBV vaccination, HBV testing was correlated with HCV testing (aOR 80.85, 95% CI 20.80 to 314.33), HIV testing (aOR 5.26, 95% CI 1.81 to 15.28), HIV-positive status (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 1.22 to 7.37) and having a PCP (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.00 to 7.26).ConclusionsOur data suggest many young MSM in China have not received hepatitis testing. HCV testing rates were lower than those recently reported among MSM in Australia and the USA. The strong correlation between HBV and HCV testing suggests bundled testing interventions may be useful for MSM in China. Men with a PCP were more likely to have received hepatitis testing, consistent with literature demonstrating the importance of primary care in expanding access to testing.

scholarly journals High-Yield HIV Testing, Facilitated Linkage to Care, and Prevention for Female Youth in Kenya (GIRLS Study): Implementation Science Protocol for a Priority Population (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Inwani ◽  
Nok Chhun ◽  
Kawango Agot ◽  
Charles M Cleland ◽  
Jasmine Buttolph ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Implementation Science ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Linkage To Care ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Hiv Negative

BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest HIV burden. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the age range of 15 to 24 years are twice as likely as their male peers to be infected, making females in sub-Saharan Africa the most at-risk group for HIV infection. It is therefore critical to prioritize access to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment for this vulnerable population. OBJECTIVE Using an implementation science framework, the purpose of this research protocol was to describe the approaches we propose to optimize engagement of AGYW in both the HIV prevention and care continuum and to determine the recruitment and testing strategies that identify the highest proportion of previously undiagnosed HIV infections. METHODS We will compare two seek recruitment strategies, three test strategies, and pilot adaptive linkage to care interventions (sequential multiple assignment randomized trial [SMART] design) among AGYW in the age range of 15 to 24 years in Homa Bay County, western Kenya. AGYW will be recruited in the home or community-based setting and offered three testing options: oral fluid HIV self-testing, staff-aided rapid HIV testing, or referral to a health care facility for standard HIV testing services. Newly diagnosed AGYW with HIV will be enrolled in the SMART trial pilot to determine the most effective way to support initial linkage to care after a positive diagnosis. They will be randomized to standard referral (counseling and a referral note) or standard referral plus SMS text message (short message service, SMS); those not linked to care within 2 weeks will be rerandomized to receive an additional SMS text message or a one-time financial incentive (approximately US $4). We will also evaluate a primary prevention messaging intervention to support identified high-risk HIV-negative AGYW to reduce their HIV risk and adhere to HIV retesting recommendations. We will also conduct analyses to determine the incremental cost-effectiveness of the seek, testing and linkage interventions. RESULTS We expect to enroll 1200 participants overall, with a random selection of 100 high-risk HIV-negative AGYW for the SMS prevention intervention (HIV-negative cohort) and approximately 108 AGYW who are living with HIV for the SMART design pilot of adaptive linkage to care interventions (HIV-positive cohort). We anticipate that the linkage to care interventions will be feasible and acceptable to implement. Lastly, the use of SMS text messages to engage participants will provide pilot data to the Kenyan government currently exploring a national platform to track and support linkage, adherence to treatment, retention, and prevention interventions for improved outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Lessons learned will inform best approaches to identify new HIV diagnoses to increase AGYW’s uptake of HIV prevention, testing, and linkage to care services in a high HIV-burden African setting. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02735642; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02735642 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6vgLLHLC9)

scholarly journals Oregon Reminders: Reducing HIV Transmission by Personalized Medication Reminders through a Statewide eHealth Program (Preprint)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhupendra Sheoran ◽  
Cara Silva ◽  
James Lykens ◽  
Londiwe Gamedze
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Healthy Behaviors ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Survey Monkey ◽  
Methods Of Learning

BACKGROUND Oregon Reminders is a SMS-based program that offers custom text, email, and voice reminders to take medications daily, refill prescriptions monthly, and get tested for HIV and other STDs every three to six months. A survey was done with current users in order to assess the effectiveness of Oregon Reminders. OBJECTIVE The primary goals were to evaluate the extent to which Oregon Reminders influenced users’ HIV testing behaviors and medication adherence. The evaluation was also designed to help us understand users’ demographics, sexual and drug use risk behaviors, methods of learning about the service, and willingness to discuss HIV with others. METHODS We conducted a survey with Oregon Reminders users to assess the service’s efficacy and user satisfaction. Oregon Reminders users were emailed requests to participate in an anonymous and voluntary online survey administered through Survey Monkey. RESULTS Oregon Reminders proved to be an effective way to assist in HIV/STDs treatment and testing. The majority of participants indicated that Oregon Reminders helped them remember to test for HIV/STDs, and more than a quarter reported testing for HIV more frequently since signing up for Oregon Reminders. CONCLUSIONS The survey data suggests that Oregon Reminders and similar programs can help users maintain or improve healthy behaviors, which ultimately serves to better control the HIV epidemic. Our results support the existing literature showing that text- and email-based reminder systems for HIV testing and medication adherence can be effective.

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