Will an Unsupervised Self-Testing Strategy Be Feasible to Operationalize in Canada? Results from a Pilot Study in Students of a Large Canadian University
Table 3
Select reasons expressed by participants for why self-testing should be made available* ().
Ease of administration
Process time and convenience
Accessibility
Privacy
“It is easy to self administer and can be accessed simply.”
“Quick and simple. Seems accurate. If positive gets quicker treatment.”
“It is fast and pain free.”
“There are people who are scared of needles, faint at the sign of blood; its easy and quick, provides privacy.”
“No waiting for an appointment and getting poked with needles.”
“It is much more convenient than the blood test and it is faster. No need to make an appointment or to go to a clinic as a first step.”
“You get results right away and you can do the test frequently without having to see a doctor which usually means a long waiting time.”
“I can show results more quickly in case someone really needs to get tested, and some people may prefer this as a preliminary method.”
“It is much more convenient and eliminates anxiety involved in waiting for blood results for 2 weeks.”
“It is easier if more accessible in pharmacies for people to test themselves if they have any concerns.”
“If self-testing is sold in pharmacy, I think more people would be willing to do it instead of going directly to a clinic.”
“I also think it would lead to more frequent testing per individual.”
“More people will have access to the test, those who do not have family doctors or don't know of STI testing sites.”
“It is useful for people without easy access to a clinic.”
“It gives discretion and privacy to people when they need a fast response system compared to the conventional blood test.”
“It allows people to get the news privately.”
“It gives people more privacy. A person who is ashamed to go to general hospital will find their HIV status at an early time, which can save his life.”
“It enables more privacy when testing for something very personal.”
Participants were asked an open-ended question: “Given your experience in this study, do you think self-testing for HIV is a good idea? Do you think it should be an option made available to people?”
