Implementing community-based Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing for HIV and hepatitis C: A qualitative analysis of key facilitators and ongoing challenges
Date
2022
Authors
Young, James
Ablona, Aidan
Klassen, Benjamin J.
Higgins, Rob
Kim, John
Lavoie, Stephanie
Knight, Rod
Lachowsky, Nathan J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Public Health
Abstract
Background: In 2018, the Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) invited gay, bisexual, trans, queer men and
Two-Spirit and non-binary people (GBT2Q) at Pride Festivals across Canada to complete in-person Sex Now surveys
and provide optional dried blood spot (DBS) samples screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and
hepatitis C virus (HCV). As there is a lack of research evaluating the implementation of DBS sampling for GBT2Q in
community settings, we aimed to evaluate this intervention, identifying key facilitators and ongoing challenges to
implementing community-based DBS screening for HIV/HCV among GBT2Q.
Methods: We conducted sixteen one-on-one interviews with individuals involved with the community-based DBS
collection protocol, including research staff, site coordinators, and volunteer DBS collectors. Most individuals involved
with DBS collection were “peers” (GBT2Q-identified). The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)
guided our data collection and analysis.
Results: Interviewees felt that DBS collection was a low-barrier, cost-effective, and simple way for peers to quickly
screen a large number of Sex Now respondents. Interviewees also noted that the community and peer-based aspects
of the research helped drive recruitment of Sex Now respondents. Most interviewees felt that the provision of results
took too long, and that some Sex Now respondents would have preferred to receive their test results immediately (e.g.,
rapid or point-of-care testing).
Conclusion: Peer-based DBS sampling can be an effective and relatively simple way to screen GBT2Q at Pride Festivals
for more than one sexually transmitted and blood borne infection.
Description
Keywords
HIV Testing, HCV Testing, Dried blood spot, Community setting, Implementation Research
Citation
Young, J., Ablona, A., Klassen, B. J., Higgins, R., Kim, J., Lavoie, S., . . . Lachowsky, N. J. (2022). “Implementing community-based Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing for HIV and hepatitis C: A qualitative analysis of key facilitators and ongoing challenges.” BMC Public Health, 22(1085). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13525-x