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Chatbot-Delivered Real-Time Support to Improve HIV Self-Testing Rates

JAMA Network Open 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.44821

November 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST

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Is an HIV self-testing (HIVST) service with chatbot-delivered real-time counseling (HIVST-chatbot) noninferior to an evidence-based HIVST online service with human administrator–delivered real-time counseling (HIVST-OIC) in improving HIVST uptake and user support?In a noninferiority randomized clinical trial of 531 men who have sex with men in Hong Kong, HIVST-chatbot was noninferior to HIVST-OIC in increasing HIVST uptake and proportion of HIVST users receiving counseling support.This study’s results suggest that HIVST-chatbot is a potentially cost-saving and scalable HIVST service for men who have sex with men.

Corresponding Author: Zixin Wang, PhD, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Room 508, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China (wangzx@cuhk.edu.hk).

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