Promoting HIV indicator condition-guided testing in hospital settings (PROTEST 2.0): study protocol for a multicentre...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Late presentation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection hinders epidemic control.
• Indicator Conditions (ICs) are crucial for identifying undiagnosed HIV, but testing opportunities are often missed.
• Hospital-based HIV testing strategies are essential for early diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate an interventional study to enhance awareness and uptake of HIV testing guided by Indicator Conditions (ICs).
• To increase HIV testing rates among patients presenting with specific ICs in a hospital setting.
• To reduce late diagnoses and improve the management of HIV in Amsterdam.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre interventional study conducted in five Amsterdam hospitals.
• Baseline assessment of HIV test ratios and qualitative/quantitative evaluation of barriers and facilitators.
• An educational intervention involving audit and feedback, followed by post-intervention assessment of HIV test ratios.

Main Results:

• The study protocol outlines the measurement of HIV test ratios within 3 and 6 months of IC diagnosis.
• Secondary endpoints include HIV positivity, proportion of late presenters, and prior HIV status knowledge.
• The intervention aims to improve the HIV test ratio, a key performance indicator.

Conclusions:

• This protocol details a strategy to boost awareness and utilization of IC-guided HIV testing in hospitals.
• The intervention is designed to increase the identification of undiagnosed HIV cases in Amsterdam.
• Improving early HIV diagnosis through IC-guided testing is critical for public health.