Delivering HIV/STI test results over the phone and through text messaging

Key take-home messages

• The ability to promptly notify people who test positive for HIV or other STIs may slow the spread of new infections.
• Telephones and mobile technologies could be cost-effective ways to facilitate rapid communication and information sharing between health care providers and clients, thereby improving patient care.
• Findings regarding the acceptability of and preferences for receiving STI test results over the phone or through text messaging are mixed. In some studies, people found it acceptable — and in some cases preferable — to receiving test results by phone or text; in others, some people still preferred face-to-face contact with a provider.
• In studies that tested different methods of notifying people about test results, clients contacted about STI test results through text messages tended to receive treatment within a shorter time than those contacted by other means.

• Population(s)
  • General HIV+ population
  • General HIV- population
• Testing
  • Testing
• Health Systems
  • Delivery arrangements