ISPOR Asia Pacific Summit 2026
6-8 September
PREFERENCES FOR HIV TESTING SERVICES AMONG MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN:EVIDENCE FROM ADISCRETE CHOICE EXPERIMENT IN CHINA...
Author(s)
Qing He, Phd candidate1, Qiang Sun, PhD2, JIA YIN, PhD1.
1Shandong University, Jinan, China, 2Shandong University, Beijing, China.
1Shandong University, Jinan, China, 2Shandong University, Beijing, China.
OBJECTIVES: HIV testing coverage among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China remains suboptimal, hindered by stigma, economic burden and low self-perceived HIV risk. To overcome these barriers and enhance testing uptake, it is critical to investigate testing preferences among this population and evaluate how different HIV testing characteristics affect their choice of testing options.
METHODS: From March 1 to October 30, 2025, a discrete choice experiment was performed to quantify MSM’s preferences across 2 provinces (Shandong and Guangdong) representing relatively low and high HIV prevalence in the northern and southern China, respectively. Respondents were presented with hypothetical testing profiles, varying in service mode, testing accuracy, mortality reduction, testing interval, cost and how long it takes to receive the HIV result. Mixed logit models were applied to estimate individual preferences, relative importance, willingness-to-pay and predicted uptake.
RESULTS: Among 553 eligible respondents, 308 (55.7%) were from Shandong, with a mean (SD) age of 33.5 (10.7) years. Overall participants were mainly concerned about cost, with testing frequency, notification time and mortality reduction also playing a crucial role in motivating testing uptake, surpassing the importance of accuracy and mode. Compared with frequent testers, respondents with low-frequency testing experience showed significantly weaker preference for health benefit and stronger preference for higher testing accuracy. However, frequent testers ranked accuracy as the least important attribute and expressed significantly stronger preference for free service relative to those with limited testing experience.
CONCLUSIONS: Among MSM, the availability of more frequent programs led by community-based organization with greater health benefit and shorter waiting time for precise results have potential to increase HIV testing rates, if provided for free. Our results expand the existing understanding of testing decision-making and provide suggestions for differentiated strategies, thereby improving prioritization of innovations of health system when resource constraints preclude use of all strategies.
METHODS: From March 1 to October 30, 2025, a discrete choice experiment was performed to quantify MSM’s preferences across 2 provinces (Shandong and Guangdong) representing relatively low and high HIV prevalence in the northern and southern China, respectively. Respondents were presented with hypothetical testing profiles, varying in service mode, testing accuracy, mortality reduction, testing interval, cost and how long it takes to receive the HIV result. Mixed logit models were applied to estimate individual preferences, relative importance, willingness-to-pay and predicted uptake.
RESULTS: Among 553 eligible respondents, 308 (55.7%) were from Shandong, with a mean (SD) age of 33.5 (10.7) years. Overall participants were mainly concerned about cost, with testing frequency, notification time and mortality reduction also playing a crucial role in motivating testing uptake, surpassing the importance of accuracy and mode. Compared with frequent testers, respondents with low-frequency testing experience showed significantly weaker preference for health benefit and stronger preference for higher testing accuracy. However, frequent testers ranked accuracy as the least important attribute and expressed significantly stronger preference for free service relative to those with limited testing experience.
CONCLUSIONS: Among MSM, the availability of more frequent programs led by community-based organization with greater health benefit and shorter waiting time for precise results have potential to increase HIV testing rates, if provided for free. Our results expand the existing understanding of testing decision-making and provide suggestions for differentiated strategies, thereby improving prioritization of innovations of health system when resource constraints preclude use of all strategies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
PCR27
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Disease
SDC: Infectious Disease (non-vaccine)