Empowering DC Residents to Ask for the Test

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis:  This research was designed to assess the impact and effectiveness of the DC Department of Health, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration’s (HAHSTA) Ask for the Test program. Specifically, the program’s effectiveness to encourage DC residents to ask for an HIV test, familiarity with the program and impact of the program exposure on behavior and practices related to HIV testing.

Methods:  The research was conducted with Washington DC adult residents ages 18 -64 via both landline and cell phone using a 15 minute survey. Approximately 1233 DC residents were surveyed including 48 percent males and 52 percent females.  The sample was representative of race, age and ward of the city.

Results:  The survey revealed that more than a third (39%) of respondents have seen Ask for the Test program media. Most importantly, more than half (52%) of those who saw the program said they asked their doctor for the test.  Survey respondents most commonly recalled the transit ad (44%) followed by TV ads (33%); outdoor ads (26%); and newspaper ads (11%). Over half (54%) of the citywide sample understood the main message to be get tested/places to go to get tested/treatment/checked.

• For those who report seeing the transit ads, 29% said it prompted them to get HIV testing (49% said it did not). – significant at 0.95 level
• For those who saw the TV ads, 44% said it prompted them to get HIV testing (30% said it did not)  - significant at .09 level
• For those who heard the radio ads,  14% said it prompted them to get HIV testing (3% said it did not) – significant at .95 level

It is important for people to feel comfortable buying condoms, before they’ll decide to get tested, despite what the campaign says.

• 42% of participants who said they felt comfortable obtaining or purchasing condoms, were prompted by the campaign to get tested for HIV.
• 89% of those who said they did not feel comfortable obtaining or purchasing condoms, also said the campaign did not prompt them to get tested for HIV.

There was a strong correlation between those that had seen multiple campaigns. More than half (58%) participants who had seen Ask for the Test had also seen DC Takes on HIV. 59% of participants who’d seen Ask for the Test had also seen Rubber Revolution. 

Conclusions:  The survey results show that the Ask for the Test program was effective in reaching DC residents about HIV testing. 

Implications for research and/or practice:  The results of this survey provide strong and credible evidence that use of transit/outdoor , TV, radio and newspapers ads to raise  public awareness campaigns related to HIV testing are effective at reaching individuals and also leading to positive behavior change including getting tested for HIV. The survey also shows that people need to feel comfortable with condoms before they will get tested for HIV. There is also a link between those that have seen this program and other safe sex or HIV prevention campaigns.