Table 1

Summary of included studies: population characteristics

Study reference	Study type	Quality score	Population targeted	Country	Sampling and recruitment	Sample size	Baseline demographics	Baseline HIV testing experience
Type of test/testing protocol
Spielberg et al17	RCT	++	MSM and injecting drug users (only MSM findings reported here)	USA	All men using bathhouse approached to participate	3140 (participated) 561 (agreed to test)	Age: 22% <30 years Ethnicity: 80% white (estimated, for eligible population)	6% never (of eligible population; those tested <3 months ago were excluded)
Galvan et al18	nRCT	+	Latino MSM	USA	Randomly sampled from men entering bars popular with Latino MSM	394	Ethnicity: all Latino Other details NR for eligible population (only for those men agreeing to test)	NR
Spielberg et al19	RCT	++	MSM, injecting drug users and women at heterosexual risk (only MSM findings reported here)	USA	From the HIV Network for Prevention Trials Vaccine Preparedness Study Cohort	140	NR for MSM group	NR
Peer education and recruitment
Flowers et al20 21	nRCT	+	MSM	Scotland	All men entering one of 10 gay bars in given time period were approached	4774 (total)	Age: mean 31.7 years SES: 87% social class I-III Education: 40% at least degree level	49.3% never
Elford et al22 23	nRCT	–	MSM	England	Peer educators recruited from gyms with predominantly gay clientele by gym managers	5656 (total)	Age: median 33 years Ethnicity: 89% white Employment: 88% employed	27% never, 10% <3 months ago, 18% 4–12 months ago, 45% >1 year ago
Wilton et al24	RCT	++	Black MSM	USA	Outreach, referrals from service users and gatekeepers, advertising	338	Age: mean 29.6 years Ethnicity: all self-identified as black SES: 46.4% income <$20000 pa Education: 29.9% college degree Sexual orientation: 78.1% gay/homosexual, 18.3% bisexual	96.1% ever, 41.4% <3 months ago
Golden et al25	Economic analysis (non-comparative data)	–	MSM	USA	Through health services, advertising, outreach	283 (recruiters) + 498 (peers)	Unclear	Unclear
Media and web-based campaigns
Guy et al26	Before-and-after	–	MSM	Australia	Participants in Melbourne Gay Community Periodic Survey	4988 (total)	NR for this sample	60.3% <12 months ago
McOwan et al27	Before-and-after	–	MSM, particularly black and southern European	England	Record review	357 (total)	Age: 9% under 25 years Ethnicity: 5% ‘south European’ origin, 3% black origin (of those seeking HIV test at targeted clinic)	NR
Chiasson et al28	Before-and-after	+	MSM	USA	Recruited through a banner advert on a gay sexual meeting site	3052 (consented); 1463 (received intervention)	Age: 22% 18–29 years, 36% 30–39 years, 42% ≥40 years Ethnicity: 72% white Education: 51% college degree Sexual orientation: 91% homosexual, 9% bisexual	6% never
STI clinic service delivery
Dukers-Muijrers et al29	Before-and-after	–	General population (only MSM findings reported here)	Netherlands	Record review	1127 (total)	NR for MSM	NR
Heijman et al30	Before-and-after	+	General population (only MSM findings reported here)	Netherlands	Record review	8047 (total)	Age: 29% ≤29 years, 34% 30–39 years, 25% 40–49 years, 12% ≥50 years Nationality: 72% Dutch	16% never
Ryder et al31	Before-and-after	–	MSM	Australia	Record review (random sample)	569	Age: median 33 years	NR

MSM, men who have sex with men; nRCT, non-randomised controlled trial; RCT, randomised controlled trial; SES, socioeconomic status; STI, sexually transmitted infection.