Table 4.
Evaluation matrix showing level of potential impact, objectives, data collection methods, and metrics.
| Level of impact | Objective to determine | Data collection method(s) | Outcome measures |
| Individual | |||
|
|
The acceptability of GCOa (among both clients using the service and prospective clients) | Virtual cohort | Percentage and characteristics of clients who repeat-test |
|
|
|
Web-based client survey | Self-reported satisfaction and willingness to refer a friend |
|
|
|
Web-based community survey | Intention to use GCO (prospective clients) |
|
|
|
Client interviews | Qualitative analysis of comments on experience with GCO |
|
|
How GCO mitigates existing barriers to accessing STIb/HIV testing | Client interviews | Analysis of self-described factors which facilitate or limit clients’ opportunities to access in-clinic or Web-based STI/HIV testing |
|
|
If GCO clients have any short-term differences in risk behavior and posttest HIV knowledge in comparison to clinic-based clients receiving traditional in-person pre/posttest counseling | Web-based client survey (0 vs 3 months) |
Risk behavior measures; 5-point true/false scale including items related to HIV transmission, risk reduction, testing, and public health follow-up |
|
|
If outcomes differ for clients testing positive via GCO (ie, are less likely to access STI treatment, or to be reached by public health for follow-up including partner notification) | Virtual cohort | Percent of those who test positive who access treatment and public health follow-up |
| Population | |||
|
|
The diffusion of GCO into priority populations (ie, men who have sex with men in Phase 1) | Web-based community survey | Percent of respondents who have heard of GCO, used GCO, and seen promotional materials |
|
|
The client characteristics associated with uptake and nonuptake of GCO | Web-based community survey | Ethnicity, education, income, STI/HIV testing history, sexual risk behaviors, perceptions of GCO, use of other health services and Web-based services |
|
|
Whether GCO reaches individuals who are most at-risk of infection | Web-based client survey | Measures of sexual risk behavior |
|
|
|
Web-based community survey | Measures of sexual risk behavior |
|
|
Whether GCO clients have higher rates of infection than those testing in-clinic | Virtual cohort | Incidence of infection (HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) |
|
|
|
Web-based community survey | Percent reporting recent STI or HIV diagnosis |
|
|
If GCO results in increased test frequency and earlier diagnosis among individuals most at-risk of infection | Virtual cohort | Percent of clients who repeat-test and intertest intervals (including interval between positive test and last negative test) |
| Health services delivery | |||
|
|
What changes in staff configuration and tasks will occur as GCO is integrated with existing clinic sexual health services | Sexual health systems data | Estimates of total/aggregate clerical and clinical staff time spent entering test results into system, seeing asymptomatic clients in-clinic, delivering test results, and following-up with positive cases; number of episodes and estimated clerical time spent on GCO user support |
|
|
If the introduction of GCO increases the capacity of existing clinic-based sexual health services |
|
Number of drop-in appointments and turn-aways ; number and types of STI/HIV tests conducted |
|
|
The impact on laboratory testing volume as a result of introducing GCO |
|
Number and types of STI/HIV tests conducted |
aGCO: GetCheckedOnline.
bSTI: sexually transmitted infection.