A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating the Acceptability and Feasibility of Self-Collecting STI Testing Samples at Home or Other Convenient Locations.

Objective/Goals: Low rates of STI testing continue to challenge treatment and prevention efforts. The self-collection of STI testing samples offers convenience and privacy and has been adopted in clinical settings. Home/convenience-based self-collection is a newer underexplored strategy with promising benefits to improve the access and frequency of STI testing. Method: This study was conducted using a sequential exploratory mixed method design with college students aged 18 – 24 years. The first phase of this study used a qualitative descriptive design to understand the current knowledge, preferences, acceptability, and feasibility of self-collecting STI testing samples at home or other places of convenience based on individual-in-depth interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed using conventional content analysis, and results were used to develop an online survey evaluating the same constructs in the quantitative phase. Thirty-eight college students participated in the individual in-depth interviews, and 101 college students completed the online survey. Results: Overall, participants described their lack of knowledge on the availability of home/convenience-based self-collect STI kits and explained that this testing strategy would increase the access and uptake of STI testing. Findings from the survey indicate that STI risk is high for this population. Only 25.7% indicated they always used a condom during sexual intercourse, in sharp contrast to 73.3% who did not consider themselves at risk for STIs. The majority of participants (86.1%) indicated that they would self-collect STI testing samples at home or a convenient location. The majority of the participants preferred to pick up self-collect kits from a pharmacy (83.2%), and the most endorsed reason for wanting to use a home/convenience-based self-collect kit was experiencing signs and symptoms (79.2%). Participants preferred dropping off samples (70.3%) versus mailing the samples (27.7%). Discussion/Significance: Innovative options for STI testing like home/convenience-based self-collection of STI testing samples can increase diagnoses and linkages to treatment. The findings from our study can guide future studies in the creation and adaptation of health behavior models to guide the promotion of home/convenience-based self-collection for STI testing. Funding: Penn State College of Nursing Affiliated with the KL2 Program of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute