Sexual health risks, service use, and views of rapid point-of-care testing among men who have sex with men attending saunas: a cross-sectional survey

Guidelines highlight the need to increase HIV testing amongst men who have sex with men and novel point-of-care testing provides new possibilities for delivery of care. However, it is unclear how point-of-care testing should be used to best effect. This study aimed to increase understanding of sexual risk-taking behaviour, service use, and attitudes to point-of-care testing amongst men who have sex with men sauna clients. Data were collected within two saunas for men who have sex with men in south west England using a self-completion survey (n = 134). Though this sample of men who have sex with men sauna clients are at high risk of acquiring an sexually transmitted infection, the testing frequency amongst the majority of those reporting unprotected anal intercourse is not in keeping with national guidelines. For almost all participants the introduction of rapid point-of-care testing for both genital and blood-borne infection was likely to increase testing and for the majority NHS specialist services was the preferred setting.