Social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial

Abstract Background Syphilis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM). Increasing syphilis testing is important to syphilis control. However, in low- and middle-income countries like China, syphilis testing rates remain low among MSM. We describe a rando...

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Main Authors: Yajie Wang, Wei Zhang, Dongping Bao, Jason J. Ong, Joseph D. Tucker, Rouxuan Ye, Heping Zheng, Bin Yang, Cheng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-05-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
MSM
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06137-0
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spelling doaj-7770cbdd731545b59e1b575a3778de632021-05-30T11:08:47ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342021-05-012111910.1186/s12879-021-06137-0Social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trialYajie Wang0Wei Zhang1Dongping Bao2Jason J. Ong3Joseph D. Tucker4Rouxuan Ye5Heping Zheng6Bin Yang7Cheng Wang8Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Project-ChinaSouthern Medical University Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted DiseasesFaculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Project-ChinaDepartment of Biostatistics, Southern Medical UniversityDermatology Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityDermatology Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityDermatology Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityAbstract Background Syphilis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM). Increasing syphilis testing is important to syphilis control. However, in low- and middle-income countries like China, syphilis testing rates remain low among MSM. We describe a randomized controlled trial protocol to examine the effectiveness of social network distribution approaches of syphilis self-testing among MSM in China. Methods We will recruit index and alter MSM. Indexes will be eligible if they: are born biologically male; aged 18 years or above; ever had sex with another man; are willing to distribute syphilis testing packages or referral links to their alters; and willing to provide personal contact information for future follow-up. Three hundred MSM will be recruited and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio into three arms: standard of care (control arm); standard syphilis self-testing (SST) delivery arm; and referral link SST delivery arm. Indexes will distribute SST packages or referral links to encourage alters to receive syphilis testing. All indexes will complete a baseline survey and a 3-month follow-up survey. Syphilis self-test results will be determined by photo verification via a digital platform. The primary outcome is the mean number of alters who returned verified syphilis testing results per index in each arm. Discussion The trial findings will provide practical implications in strengthening syphilis self-testing distribution and increasing syphilis testing uptake among MSM in China. This study also empowers MSM community in expanding syphilis testing by using their own social network. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000036988 . Registered 26 August 2020 - Retrospectively registered.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06137-0SyphilisSelf-testMSMSocial network distributioncRCT
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Yajie Wang
Wei Zhang
Dongping Bao
Jason J. Ong
Joseph D. Tucker
Rouxuan Ye
Heping Zheng
Bin Yang
Cheng Wang
spellingShingle Yajie Wang
Wei Zhang
Dongping Bao
Jason J. Ong
Joseph D. Tucker
Rouxuan Ye
Heping Zheng
Bin Yang
Cheng Wang
Social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial
BMC Infectious Diseases
Syphilis
Self-test
MSM
Social network distribution
cRCT
author_facet Yajie Wang
Wei Zhang
Dongping Bao
Jason J. Ong
Joseph D. Tucker
Rouxuan Ye
Heping Zheng
Bin Yang
Cheng Wang
author_sort Yajie Wang
title Social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial
title_short Social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial
title_full Social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial
title_fullStr Social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial
title_full_unstemmed Social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial
title_sort social network distribution of syphilis self-testing among men who have sex with men in china: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial
publisher BMC
series BMC Infectious Diseases
issn 1471-2334
publishDate 2021-05-01
description Abstract Background Syphilis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM). Increasing syphilis testing is important to syphilis control. However, in low- and middle-income countries like China, syphilis testing rates remain low among MSM. We describe a randomized controlled trial protocol to examine the effectiveness of social network distribution approaches of syphilis self-testing among MSM in China. Methods We will recruit index and alter MSM. Indexes will be eligible if they: are born biologically male; aged 18 years or above; ever had sex with another man; are willing to distribute syphilis testing packages or referral links to their alters; and willing to provide personal contact information for future follow-up. Three hundred MSM will be recruited and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio into three arms: standard of care (control arm); standard syphilis self-testing (SST) delivery arm; and referral link SST delivery arm. Indexes will distribute SST packages or referral links to encourage alters to receive syphilis testing. All indexes will complete a baseline survey and a 3-month follow-up survey. Syphilis self-test results will be determined by photo verification via a digital platform. The primary outcome is the mean number of alters who returned verified syphilis testing results per index in each arm. Discussion The trial findings will provide practical implications in strengthening syphilis self-testing distribution and increasing syphilis testing uptake among MSM in China. This study also empowers MSM community in expanding syphilis testing by using their own social network. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000036988 . Registered 26 August 2020 - Retrospectively registered.
topic Syphilis
Self-test
MSM
Social network distribution
cRCT
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06137-0
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