The CATEST study has three independent yet inter-related aims: to evaluate the context of HIV self-testing among young adults in Mecklenburg County, NC (Aim 1), crowdsource HIV self-testing implementation strategies (Aim 2) and implement and assess finalist crowdsourced HIV self-testing implementation strategies (Aim 3).
To ensure broad community representation for this study, we will work with established youth and HIV organizations (RAIN Inc. and Carolinas Care Partnership), Mecklenburg County Health Department, and community members to guide recruitment, facilitate relationships, and recommend community delivery approaches of the crowdsourced strategies.
Aim 1: Identify the barriers and facilitators to implementing HIVST among Young Adults:
Purposively recruit a diverse group of 30 community partners who provide HIV testing, PrEP, and other HIV prevention and care services
Aim 2: Use crowdsourcing, open calls, and charrettes to develop HIV self-testing implementation strategies for young adults in Mecklenburg County:
Evaluate open call submissions using standardized criteria:
- Advisory committee will elect a public panel to judge submissions using a with scores for: novelty, relevance, feasibility, and elaboration
- The Advisory Committee and the research team will convene and reach a consensus to select the final top ideas for charrettes
Convene a two-day Charrette to develop HIVST implementation strategies to be
implemented in Aim 3
- To reach consensus and iteratively finalize components of HIVST implementation strategies
based on the contributed crowdsourced ideas - Day 1 unstructured discussion of submissions and interview findings
- Day 2 structured evaluation to rate relevance and feasibility; ultimately will select implementation strategies using consensus
Aim 3: Implement crowdsourced HIV self-testing implementation strategies among young adults and measure implementation outcomes:
Structured Surveys
- 240 participants aged 18-29:
- components of the finalized crowdsourced HIVST implementation strategies
- Online survey
Exit interviews
- At 3-months follow-up
- 20 participants will be recruited for in-depth interviews