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Planning and commitment prompts to encourage reporting of HIV self-test results: A cluster randomized pragmatic trial in Tshwane District, South Africa

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Listed:
  • Alison M Buttenheim
  • Laura Schmucker
  • Noora Marcus
  • Mothepane Phatsoane
  • Vanessa Msolomba
  • Naleni Rhagnath
  • Mohammed Majam
  • François Venter
  • Harsha Thirumurthy

Abstract

Reporting of HIV self-test results to encourage linkage to HIV care for those who receive a positive test result is a common challenge faced by HIV self-testing programs. The impact of self-testing programs is diminished if individuals who obtain a self-test do not use the test or seek confirmatory testing and initiate HIV treatment following a positive result. We conducted a cluster randomized trial of two interventions designed to increase reporting of HIV self-test results: a “plan and commit” intervention that leveraged insights from behavioral economics, and an enhanced usual care version of the standard HIV self-test community distribution protocol that promoted the importance of reporting results. The trial was conducted at community distribution sites for HIV self-tests in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa. The primary outcome was reporting of self-test results via a WhatsApp messaging system. We recruited 1,478 participants at 13 distribution sites over 24 days. In the plan and commit condition, 63/731 participants (8.7%) reported their test results via WhatsApp, compared to 59/747 participants (7.9%) in the enhanced usual care condition (n.s., p = 0.61). During the study period, 101/3,199 individuals (3.1%) who received a self-test under the standard protocol reported test results via WhatsApp, a significant difference across the three arms (p

Suggested Citation

  • Alison M Buttenheim & Laura Schmucker & Noora Marcus & Mothepane Phatsoane & Vanessa Msolomba & Naleni Rhagnath & Mohammed Majam & François Venter & Harsha Thirumurthy, 2022. "Planning and commitment prompts to encourage reporting of HIV self-test results: A cluster randomized pragmatic trial in Tshwane District, South Africa," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(10), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pgph00:0001196
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001196
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andor, Mark A. & Fels, Katja M. & Renz, Jan & Rzepka, Sylvi, 2018. "Do planning prompts increase educational success? Evidence from randomized controlled trials in MOOCs," Ruhr Economic Papers 790, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    2. Carrera, Mariana & Royer, Heather & Stehr, Mark & Sydnor, Justin & Taubinsky, Dmitry, 2018. "The limits of simple implementation intentions: Evidence from a field experiment on making plans to exercise," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 95-104.
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