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Summary Background China has the highest prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection worldwide. Universal HBV screening might enable China to reach the WHO 2030 target of 90% diagnostics, 80% treatment, and 65% HBV-related death reduction, and eventually elimination of viral hepatitis. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of implementing universal HBV screening in China and identified optimal screening strategies. Methods We used a Markov cohort model, inputting parameters based on data from previous studies and public databases, to assess the cost-effectiveness of four HBV serological screening strategies in China in different screening scenarios. We simulated universal screening scenarios in 15 adult age groups between 18 and 70 years, with different years of screening implementation (2021, 2026, and 2031) and compared to the status quo (ie, no universal screening); in total, we investigated 180 different screening scenarios. We calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) between the different screening strategies and the status quo (current screening strategy). We performed probabilistic and one-way deterministic sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of our findings. Findings With a willingness-to-pay level of three times the Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (US$30 828), all universal screening scenarios in 2021 were cost-effective compared with the status quo. The serum HBsAg/HBsAb/HBeAg/HBeAb/HBcAb (five-test) screening strategy in people aged 18–70 years was the most cost-effective strategy in 2021 (ICER $18 295/quality-adjusted life-years [QALY] gained). This strategy remained the most cost-effective, when the willingness-to-pay threshold was reduced to 2 times GDP per capita. The two-test strategy for people aged 18–70 years became more cost-effective at lower willingness-to-pay levels. The five-test strategy could prevent 3·46 million liver-related deaths in China over the lifetime of the cohort. It remained the most cost-effective strategy when implementation was delayed until 2026 (ICER $20 183/QALY) and 2031 (ICER $23 123/QALY). Screening young people (18–30 years) will no longer be cost-effective in delayed scenarios. Interpretation The five-test universal screening strategy in people aged 18–70 years, implemented within the next 10 years, is the optimal HBV screening strategy for China. Other screening strategies could be cost-effective alternatives, if budget is limited in rural areas. Delaying strategy implementation reduces overall cost-effectiveness. Early screening initiation will aid global efforts in achieving viral hepatitis elimination. Funding National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Background Crowdsourcing may be an effective strategy to develop test promotion materials. We conducted an online randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate a crowdsourced intervention to promote hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Methods MSM never previously tested for hepatitis were recruited through social media. Eligible men were randomized to receive an online crowdsourced intervention or no testing promotion materials. Outcomes including self-reported and confirmed HBV and HCV test uptake were assessed after four weeks. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of men achieving primary and secondary outcomes between the intervention and control arms were calculated. Findings 556 eligible men were enrolled. Overall, 17•4% (97/556) of men self-reported HBV and HCV testing and 7•9% (44/556) confirmed HBV and HCV test uptake. The intervention was seen by 72•1% and 29•0% of men in the intervention and control arms, respectively. In intention-to-treat analysis, confirmed HBV and HCV test uptake was similar between the two arms, both when using a missing=failure approach (OR 0•98, 95% CI 0•53–1•82) or multiple imputation (OR 1•46, 95% CI 0•72–2•95). Interpretation This RCT extends the literature by developing and evaluating an intervention to spur hepatitis testing in a middle-income country with a high burden of hepatitis. Overall test uptake among MSM in China was similar to previous interventions promoting hepatitis testing in high-income countries. We found frequent intervention sharing, complicating interpretation of the results, and the role of crowdsourcing to promote hepatitis testing remains unclear.

Background: With the largest hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected population worldwide, universal HBV screening in China may significantly contribute to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 goals in eliminating viral hepatitis. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of universal HBV screening in China and identified optimal screening strategies. Methods: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis using a Markov cohort model based on four HBV serological screening methods in China. We simulated these universal screening in 15 different adult age groups with different initiation time (year 2021, 2026 and 2031). We performed probabilistic and one-way deterministic sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of our findings. Results: With a willingness-to-pay level of 3x Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (US$30,828), HBsAg/HBsAb/HBeAg/HBeAb/HBcAb (five-test) screening among 18-70 years was the most cost-effective strategy in 2021 (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio [ICER] US$18,295/quality-adjusted life-year [QALY] gained). This remained the most cost-effective strategy, even when the willingness-to-pay threshold reduced to US$17,778; other strategies became more cost-effective at lower willingness-to-pay levels. This strategy would potentially prevent 3.46 million liver-related deaths over the lifetime of the cohort. It remained the most cost-effective even when the implementation was delayed to 2026 and 2031, but with greater ICERs (US$20,183/QALY and US$23,123/QALY, respectively). The screening will no longer be cost-effective in younger age groups in delayed scenarios. Conclusion: Five-test universal screening among 18-70 years implemented in 2021 is the optimal HBV screening strategy in China. Delaying strategy implementation reduces overall cost-effectiveness. Early screening initiation will aid global efforts in achieving viral hepatitis elimination. Funding: LZ is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 8191101420); Outstanding Young Scholars Funding (3111500001); Xi'an Jiaotong University Basic Research and Profession Grant (xtr022019003); and Xi'an Jiaotong University Young Talent Support Program (YX6J004). WKS is supported by the Outstanding Young Researcher Award, the University of Hong Kong. JJO is supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Emerging Leadership Fellowship (GNT11953955). This project is funded by The University of Hong Kong Common Core Course. Declaration of Interest: PC is a staff member of the World Health Organization; the author alone is responsible for the views expressed in this publication, and they do not necessarily represent the decisions or policies of the World Health Organization. MFY is an advisory board member and/or received research funding from AbbVie, Arbutus Biopharma, Assembly Biosciences, Bristol Myer Squibb, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Clear B Therapeutics, Springbank Pharmaceuticals; and received research funding from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Fujirebio Incorporation and Sysmex Corporation. WKS received speaker's fees from AstraZeneca and Mylan, is an advisory board member of CSL Behring, is an advisory board member and received speaker's fees from AbbVie, and is an advisory board member, received speaker's fees and researching funding from Gilead Sciences. The remaining authors have no conflict of interests.

BACKGROUND Online dating apps are popular platforms for seeking romance and sexual relationships among young adults. As mobile apps can easily gain access to a pool of strangers (“new friends”) at any time and place, it leads to heightened sexual health risks and privacy concerns. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a peer-led web-based intervention for online dating apps to prepare Chinese college students so that they have better self-efficacy when using dating apps. METHODS An open clustered randomized controlled trial was conducted among students from three colleges (The University of Hong Kong, Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, and Yijin Programme of Vocational Training College) in Hong Kong. Students aged 17 to 27 years who attended common core curriculum or general education were randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention material, developed with high peer engagement, included four short videos, an interactive scenario game, and a risk assessment tool. An existing website promoting physical activities and healthy living was used as a control. Using the information, motivation, and behavioral skills (IMB) approach to design the evaluation, questionnaires covering participants’ sociodemographics and dating app characteristics, as well as the general self-efficacy scale (GSE) as the primary outcome and the risk propensity scale (RPS) as the secondary outcome were administered before, immediately after, and at 1 month after the intervention. Intention-to-treat analysis was adopted, and between-group differences were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test. A post-hoc multiple linear regression model was used to examine the correlates of the GSE and RPS. RESULTS A total of 578 eligible participants (290 in the intervention group and 288 in the control group) participated in the study with 36 lost to follow-up. There were more female participants (318/542, 58.7%) than male participants in the sample, reflecting the distribution of college students. Over half of the participants (286/542, 52.8%) reported the following reasons for using dating apps: being curious (170/498, 34.1%), trying to make new friends (158/498, 31.7%), and finding friends with similar interests (121/498, 24.3%). Overall, the participants in the intervention group reported favorable experiences when compared with the finding in the control group. There was significant improvement in the GSE score and reduction in the RPS score (P CONCLUSIONS The online intervention was effective in improving general self-efficacy and reducing risk tendency among young students. Future work is needed to determine if this approach is cost-effective and such behavioral change is sustainable. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03685643; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03685643. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1186/s13063-018-3167-5

To investigate the prevalence and the associated risk factors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kunming, 300 MSM were recruited through community-based organizations between September 2014 and January 2015. The prevalence of HIV, HBsAg, syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) were 17.0%, 7.7%, 11.3%, 18.2% and 13.2%, respectively. In the three different anatomic sites (urethra, rectum and pharynx), the prevalence of rectal CT was the highest (15.5%), whereas NG was most commonly found in the pharynx (8.1%). Low education level, homosexuality, inconsistent condom use and drug use in the previous six months were significantly associated with HIV infection, whereas the former three factors were also associated with HBV infection.Older people (aged ≥ 40 years) and those who lacked knowledge of STIs, and younger people (aged