Background: HIV poses a threat to global health. With effective treatment options available, education and testing strategies are essential in preventing transmission. Text messaging is an effective tool for health promotion and can be used to target higher risk populations. This study reports on the design, delivery and testing of a mobile text messaging SMS intervention for HIV prevention and awareness, aimed at adults in the construction industry and delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Participants were recruited at workplace health promotion events (21 sites, n = 464 employees), including health checks with HIV testing. Message development was based on a participatory design and included a focus group (n = 9) and message fidelity testing (n = 291) with assessment of intervention uptake, reach, acceptability, and engagement. Barriers to HIV testing were identified and mapped to the COM-B behavioural model. 23 one-way push SMS messages (19 included short web links) were generated and fidelity tested, then sent via automated SMS to two employee cohorts over a 10-week period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Engagement metrics measured were: opt-outs, SMS delivered/read, number of clicks per web link, four two-way pull messages exploring repeat HIV testing, learning new information, perceived usefulness and behaviour change. Results: 291 people participated (68.3% of eligible attendees). A total of 7726 messages were sent between March and June 2020, with 91.6% successfully delivered (100% read). 12.4% of participants opted out over 10 weeks. Of delivered messages, links were clicked an average of 14.4% times, max 24.1% for HIV related links. The number of clicks on web links declined over time (r = −6.24, p = 0.01). Response rate for two-way pull messages was 13.7% of participants. Since the workplace HIV test offer at recruitment, 21.6% reported having taken a further HIV test. Qualitative replies indicated behavioural influence of messaging on exercise, lifestyle behaviours and intention to HIV test. Conclusions: SMS messaging for HIV prevention and awareness is acceptable to adults in the construction industry, has high uptake, low attrition and good engagement with message content, when delivered during a global pandemic. Data collection methods may need refinement for audience, and effect of COVID-19 on results is yet to be understood. View Full-Text

中文翻译：

---

Test@Work 文本：在 COVID-19 大流行期间通过手机短信提高英国建筑工人对 HIV 和 HIV 检测的认识


背景：艾滋病毒对全球健康构成威胁。有了有效的治疗方案，教育和检测策略对于预防传播至关重要。短信是促进健康的有效工具，可用于针对高风险人群。本研究报告了针对艾滋病毒预防和认识的移动短信 SMS 干预措施的设计、交付和测试，该干预措施针对建筑行业的成年人，并在 COVID-19 大流行期间交付。方法：在工作场所健康促进活动中招募参与者（21 个地点， n = 464 名员工），包括通过 HIV 检测进行健康检查。信息开发基于参与式设计，包括焦点小组 ( n = 9) 和信息保真度测试 ( n = 291)，并评估干预措施的采用、覆盖范围、可接受性和参与度。 HIV 检测的障碍已被识别并映射到 COM-B 行为模型。在 COVID-19 大流行期间，生成了 23 条单向推送 SMS 消息（其中 19 条包括简短的网络链接）并进行了保真度测试，然后在 10 周内通过自动 SMS 发送给两个员工群体。衡量的参与度指标包括：选择退出、发送/阅读的短信、每个网络链接的点击次数、四个双向拉动消息，探索重复艾滋病毒检测、学习新信息、感知有用性和行为改变。结果： 291 人参加（符合资格的参加者的 68.3%）。 2020年3月至2020年6月期间，共发送消息7726条，成功送达率91.6%（已读100%）。 12.4% 的参与者在 10 周内选择退出。在已发送的消息中，链接的平均点击次数为 14.4%，其中 HIV 相关链接的点击次数最多为 24.1%。 网络链接的点击次数随着时间的推移而下降（ r = -6.24， p = 0.01）。参与者双向拉取消息的响应率为 13.7%。自从在招聘时提供工作场所艾滋病毒检测以来，21.6% 的人表示已经接受了进一步的艾滋病毒检测。定性答复表明信息对运动、生活方式行为和艾滋病毒检测意愿的行为影响。结论：用于艾滋病毒预防和认识的短信对于建筑行业的成年人来说是可以接受的，在全球大流行期间传递时，其采用率高，流失率低，并且对消息内容的参与度很高。数据收集方法可能需要针对受众进行改进，并且 COVID-19 对结果的影响尚不清楚。查看全文