BACKGROUND: In 2006, two new innovative features were added to a website called WhyTest which provided HIV/sexually transmissable infection (STI) information for gay men. The features were the 'Tell them' service allowing visitors to forward anonymous e-postcard or short message services (SMS) to sexual partners who may have been exposed to an STI, and the 'Remind me' service allowing visitors to register for a 3-, 6- or 12-monthly SMS reminder for a sexual health check. We describe the uptake of the new website functionality, and recognition of a health promotion campaign conducted in January-June 2007 to promote these new features. METHODS: We used Poisson regression to assess trends in monthly partner notification messages and STI testing reminders sent in August 2007-June 2010. We also analysed 2007 Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey data to measure recall of the campaign. RESULTS: A total of 7923 partner notification messages were sent in the period August 2007-June 2010, with a significant increasing trend in monthly messages sent (P<0001). Of the total messages sent, 7581 (96%) were by SMS and 342 (4%) by e-postcards. A total of 1023 STI testing reminders were sent in the same period, with a significant increasing trend in monthly reminders sent (P<0.001); 516 reminders were by SMS (50.4%) and 507 by email (49.6%). The 2007 Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey showed that 55% of the 2342 participants recognised the WhyTest image in the campaign. CONCLUSION: There was high awareness of WhyTest campaign images and the SMS partner notification service was more popular than the e-postcard feature.
BACKGROUND: In 2006, two new innovative features were added to a website called WhyTest which provided HIV/sexually transmissable infection (STI) information for gay men. The features were the 'Tell them' service allowing visitors to forward anonymous e-postcard or short message services (SMS) to sexual partners who may have been exposed to an STI, and the 'Remind me' service allowing visitors to register for a 3-, 6- or 12-monthly SMS reminder for a sexual health check. We describe the uptake of the new website functionality, and recognition of a health promotion campaign conducted in January-June 2007 to promote these new features. METHODS: We used Poisson regression to assess trends in monthly partner notification messages and STI testing reminders sent in August 2007-June 2010. We also analysed 2007 Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey data to measure recall of the campaign. RESULTS: A total of 7923 partner notification messages were sent in the period August 2007-June 2010, with a significant increasing trend in monthly messages sent (P<0001). Of the total messages sent, 7581 (96%) were by SMS and 342 (4%) by e-postcards. A total of 1023 STI testing reminders were sent in the same period, with a significant increasing trend in monthly reminders sent (P<0.001); 516 reminders were by SMS (50.4%) and 507 by email (49.6%). The 2007 Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey showed that 55% of the 2342 participants recognised the WhyTest image in the campaign. CONCLUSION: There was high awareness of WhyTest campaign images and the SMS partner notification service was more popular than the e-postcard feature.
Authors: Jennifer Pellowski; Catherine Mathews; Moira O Kalichman; Sarah Dewing; Mark N Lurie; Seth C Kalichman Journal: J Health Commun Date: 2016-05-04
Authors: Martin Holt; Peter Hull; Toby Lea; Rebecca Guy; Chris Bourne; Garrett Prestage; Iryna Zablotska; John de Wit; Limin Mao Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2013-11-14 Impact factor: 3.519
Authors: Rebecca J Guy; Joanne M Micallef; Julie Mooney-Somers; Muhammad S Jamil; Caroline Harvey; Deborah Bateson; Caroline van Gemert; Handan Wand; John Kaldor Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2016-06-24 Impact factor: 5.428