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. 2022 Nov 18;6(11):e40996. doi: 10.2196/40996

Table 3.

Comparison of participants’ baseline characteristics by study engagement level.

Characteristics Partial engagement (<3 visits; n=58), n (%) Full engagement (≥3 visits; n=146), n (%) Bivariable logistic regression analysis



ORa (95% CI) P value
Sociodemographic variables .76

Age (years)b,c 30 (25-37) 31 (27-39) 1.01 (0.97-1.04)

Local Chinesec .87


No 4 (6.9) 11 (7.5) Reference


Yes 54 (93.1) 135 (92.5) 0.91 (0.28-2.98)

Education leveld .98


Secondary or below 4 (7.4) 11 (7.5) Reference


Postsecondary 50 (92.6) 135 (92.5) 0.98 (0.30-3.23)

Employedd .27


No 13 (24.1) 25 (17.1) Reference


Yes 41 (75.9) 121 (82.9) 1.53 (0.72-3.27)

Monthly income level (HKD)d,e


0 5 (9.3) 12 (8.2) Reference f


1-15,000 16 (29.6) 24 (16.4) 0.63 (0.18-2.12) .45


15,001-30,000 14 (25.9) 58 (39.7) 1.73 (0.52-5.70) .37


30,001-50,000 10 (18.5) 32 (21.9) 1.33 (0.38-4.71) .66


>50,000 9 (16.7) 20 (13.7) 0.93 (0.25-3.42) .91
Channels ever used for seeking sex partnersd

Local physical venue 35 (64.8) 107 (73.3) 1.49 (0.76-2.91) .24

Overseas physical venue 19 (35.2) 60 (41.1) 1.29 (0.67-2.46) .45

Virtual venue 51 (94.4) 135 (92.5) 0.72 (0.19-2.69) .63
History of sexual behavior

History of group sexd .06


Never 11 (20.4) 15 (10.3) Reference


Ever 43 (79.6) 131 (89.7) 2.23 (0.95-5.23)

History of chemsex engagementd .42


Never 31 (57.4) 93 (63.7) Reference


Ever 23 (42.6) 53 (36.3) 0.77 (0.41-1.45)

History of STIg diagnosish .45


Never 34 (68.0) 85 (62.0) Reference


Ever 16 (32.0) 52 (38.0) 1.30 (0.65-2.58)
HIV and STI testing

Acceptance of regular HIV testingi


No 2 (3.8) 0 (0)


Yes 51 (96.2) 141 (100)

Acceptance of regular STI testingi .36


No 3 (5.7) 4 (2.8) Reference


Yes 50 (94.3) 137 (97.2) 2.06 (0.44-9.51)

Types of sampling and testing preferredd


Self-test 28 (51.9) 75 (51.4) 0.98 (0.53-1.83) .95


Point-of-care test with samples collected by a trained staff member 49 (90.7) 116 (79.5) 0.39 (0.14-1.08) .07


Self-sampling and testing by a lab 10 (18.5) 32 (21.9) 1.24 (0.56-2.72) .60


Sample taken by an HCWj and tested by a lab 11 (20.4) 53 (36.3) 2.23 (1.06-4.68) .03
Research outcomes and participation

Baseline positive STI resultc .37


No 38 (65.5) 105 (71.9) Reference


Yes 20 (34.5) 41 (28.1) 0.74 (0.39-1.42)

Incident STI during the follow-upk .003


No 24 (80.0) 71 (48.6) Reference


Yes 6 (20.0) 75 (51.4) 4.23 (1.63-10.94)

Sought medical referral during the studyc <.001


No 54 (93.1) 83 (56.8) Reference


Yes 4 (6.9) 63 (43.2) 10.25 (3.52-29.79)

Synchronized schedule with PrEPl study visitc <.001


No 40 (69.0) 6 (4.1) Reference


Yes 18 (31.0) 140 (95.9) 51.85 (19.30-139.34)

aOR: odds ratio.

bMedian (IQR).

cn=204.

dn=200.

eUS $1=HK $7.8.

fNot applicable.

gSTI: sexually transmitted infection.

hn=187.

in=194.

jHCW: health care workers.

kn=176.

lPrEP: pre-exposure prophylaxis.