Use of Vending Machines to Deliver Oral Rapid HIV Self-Tests to Veterans: Protocol for a Pilot Study

This study will generate practice-ready evidence on the feasibility, acceptability, and early behavioral impacts of VM-dispensed HIVSTs for veterans. By pairing a stigma-responsive delivery channel with pragmatic measures, findings can inform equitable scale-up across VA and community settings, guide comparative evaluations of distribution channels (VMs, mail-to-home, or clinic pick-up), and support privacy-preserving linkage strategies to confirmatory testing, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, and treatment. Results will address a critical evidence gap for veteran-focused HIV prevention and provide parameters for multi-site evaluations.