inSPOT Toronto

Bruce ClarkeToronto Public Health

April 5, 2012

Outline

•Background on inSPOT Toronto

•Function of the site

•Site Usage

•Promotions

•Evaluation

Background

• inSPOT was launched in 2007 as one way to address infectious syphilis among Toronto MSM

• allows users to send anonymous or non-anonymous electronic cards (e-cards) to their sexual partners to notify them of a possible exposure to an STI.

Background

•High rates of partner change, connecting to partners through the internet (on-line chat rooms or websites)

•The site includes comprehensive STI information, and links to local resources and clinics for testing and treatment

•Purchase the inSPOT service from ISIS Inc.

•Other cities, jurisdictions also use the service

 

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

inSPOT Toronto

Promotions

• Palm cards

• Proximity marketing

• Print and on-line advertising in gay media and ethno-specific print media

• Facebook ads and Google ad words

• Promotion to Toronto Physicians

• M2Men iPhone app. – Grindr, Google Adwords, Print and on-line media

Promotions

•Now also doing some on-line and print advertising targeting straight identified youth

•In 2012 we will be using twitter to get the word out as well as Facebook engagement posts and blogging

Promotions - animated jif

Promotions

Promotions

Promotions

Promotions – iPhone app.

Site usage

2010

Total visits – 3820

Senders – 304

Recipients – 460

2011

Total visits – 3499

Senders – 681

Recipients - 1095

Site usage

•Generally find that site usage increases when the site is promoted, especially with earned media

•Overall, site usage has gone down since the site introduced, but increase in 2011 of cards sent and card recipients

•2011 increase probably due to BC-CDC promotion of site in August 2011

Evaluation

•Currently evaluating the site with Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa Public Health and BC-CDC.

•On-line survey now on the site inviting Canadians to complete.

Evaluation - objectives

Evaluation Objectives:

•Do e-card recipients seek testing?

•Does the site provide useful information?

•How can we improve the service?

•How users learned about inSPOT?

•Key characteristics of inSPOT users

inSPOT Toronto

Benefits

•Increase in STI notification resources, possibly more comfortable for clients than face-to-face notification

•Increased TPH presence online (and with the M2Men iphone app, a mobile inSPOT)

•Cost: approximately 60 USD weekly

inSPOT Toronto

Challenges •Evaluation – possibility of an on-line test requisition

•Cost of promoting the site to increase users, and consistency in promotions

•Changes to the site in 2010

inSPOT Toronto

Thank You