Use of GetCheckedOnline and testing through healthcare providers among repeat users of British Columbia's digital testing service for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections: Findings from a cross-sectional survey
Date
2025
Authors
Gilbert, Mark
Ablona, Aidan
Chang, Hsiu-Ju
Iyamu, Ihoghosa
Sierra-Rosales, Rodrigo
Pedersen, Heather
Flowers, Paul
Lachowsky, Nathan
Grace, Daniel
Worthington, Catherine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Digital Health
Abstract
Background
Digital testing services for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) are becoming more common in Canada. There is little evidence supporting the assumption that these services reduce healthcare system burden. To explore this further, we described patterns of provider-based testing among repeat users of a digital STBBI testing service, and their association with access barriers.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional survey in November 2022 of repeat GetCheckedOnline.com users (?2 tests, with 1 test between April and October 2022). We stratified participants into three use patterns of GetCheckedOnline for testing, using ordinal logistic regression to examine associations with barriers reflecting availability, accessibility, acceptability and appropriateness of health services (applying weights to adjust for non-responders).
Results
Of 798 participants (17.2% of 4633 eligible), 52.6% only and 35.8% mostly tested through GetCheckedOnline; 14.5% tested more often/equally through healthcare providers. Availability was associated with greater use of GetCheckedOnline (e.g., not having a primary care provider, OR 2.03, 95% CI [1.52–2.73]), and appropriateness with lower use (getting tested part of clinical care, OR 0.07 95% CI [0.05–0.11]). Participants < 25 years, high school educated or less or born outside Canada reported greater use of GetCheckedOnline for testing while 2S/LGBTQ+ and full-time employed participants reported lower use. Most participants (88.0%) would have tested through a provider if GetCheckedOnline were not available.
Conclusion
GetCheckedOnline use was associated with barriers to the availability of provider-based testing. Digital STBBI testing services may improve access to testing and reduce demands on healthcare providers for testing.
Description
Keywords
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Aspiration Research Cluster
Citation
Gilbert, M., Ablona, A., Chang, HJ., Iyamu, I., Sierra-Rosales, R., Pedersen, H., Flowers, P., Lachowsky, N., Grace, D. and Worthington, C. (2025) Use of GetCheckedOnline and testing through healthcare providers among repeat users of British Columbia's digital testing service for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections: Findings from a cross-sectional survey. Digital Health, 11, https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251339016