User characteristics and use patterns in the STI-X STI test vending pilot

OBJECTIVES: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing is less frequently accessed in rural and regional Australian communities due to many barriers, including limited access to specialised services and stigma. To address this, we sought to pilot the implementation of STI test kit dispensing vending machines and assess their acceptability and use. METHODS: We conducted a 12-month pilot, placing two free STI test kit vending machines in 4-month intervals across seven rural and regional towns/cities. We worked with each community to determine ideal placement locations and marketing strategies. We assessed utilisation rates, return rates, positive diagnosis rates and user satisfaction. RESULTS: The vending machines dispensed 176 STI test kits over a period of 836 days in situ across seven towns/cities. Users ranged from 17 years to 70 years of age-those over 30 years had a greater odds of travelling over 25 km to access a test compared with younger users (OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.28 to 1.01). A large number (43.9%) of users reported having never completed an STI test before. 32 users returned samples for analysis with 12.5% receiving a positive result. Of the users who rated the vending machine process, 94.0% (79/84) rated it as 'easy' or 'very easy' to use and 95.6% (86/90) rated the process as 'fast' or 'very fast'. CONCLUSION: Our pilot suggests that STI test kit vending machines are an acceptable testing option for a wide range of users in rural and regional communities. Further research is necessary to understand how to improve return rates in order to improve sustainability.