O19.1 Effect of a web drama video series on HIV/STI testing among gay men in Singapore: a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial

Background While HIV/STI testing rates among Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are increasing worldwide, they remain suboptimal in a variety of settings. Methods The study is a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial design to evaluate a popular web drama video series developed by a community-based organization in Singapore for GBMSM. A total of 300 HIV-negative, GBMSM men in Singapore aged 18 to 29 years old were recruited and block-randomized into the intervention (n=150) and control arms (n=150). Primary outcomes included changes in self-reported intention to test for, actual testing for, and regularity of testing for HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, while secondary outcomes include changes in a variety of other knowledge-based and psychosocial measures at the end of the study period. Results Overall, 125 out of 150 participants (83.3%) in the intervention arm completed the proof of completion survey, compared to 133 out of 150 participants (88.7%) in the control arm (Chi-square test, p=0.715). We found statistically significant differences in self-reporting as a regular (at least yearly) tester for HIV (Chi-square test, p=0.016), as well as chlamydia and gonorrhoea (Chi-square test, p=0.009), indicating that the intervention had positively impacted these outcomes compared to the control condition. We also found statistically significant differences in participants’ intentions to test for HIV (Chi-square test, p=0.009), syphilis (Chi-square test, p=0.014), as well as chlamydia and gonorrhoea (Chi-square test, p=0.008) in the next three months, indicating that the intervention was effective in positively impacting intention for HIV and other STI testing among participants. Conclusions There are benefits for promoting intentions to test especially in tandem with interventions that address structural barriers to testing. This intervention has potential to reach GBMSM without access to conventional HIV/STI prevention messaging, and who do not frequent physical venues where such messaging targets.