Delay Discounting for HIV/STI Testing.

INTRODUCTION: Wait time in healthcare is an important barrier to HIV/STI testing. Using a delay discounting approach, the current study examined a systematic reduction in testing likelihood as a function of delay (wait time) until testing.

METHODS: In Study 1 ( N = 421; data collected in 2019), participants were randomly assigned to either a chlamydia/gonorrhea group or HIV group. A delay discounting task asked them to report how likely they would get tested for the assigned STI if they had to wait for the test (the delay durations varied within persons). In Study 2 ( N = 392; data collected in 2020), we added a smaller, sooner outcome (consultation without testing) and tested whether the effect of delay was mediated by perceived severity of the STIs.

RESULTS: In both studies, the subjective value of a delayed STI test was discounted. That is, people were less likely to undergo STI testing as the delay to STI testing increased. The chlamydia/gonorrhea group discounted delayed testing more than the HIV group (i.e., the effect of delay on testing decisions was stronger for the former). This effect was statistically mediated by perceived severity.

CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence for delay discounting for HIV/STI testing and that testing decisions were more susceptible to delay when the test was for relatively mild STIs.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Even mild STIs can cause serious health damage if left untreated. The findings provide strong argument for policies aimed to reduce wait times in healthcare, especially for relatively mild STIs.