Research Project (2024–25): Sustainability of digital interventions for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections testing in Canada: A multi-methods study
In addition to his role as a CTN+ postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Ihoghosa (Muyi) Iyamu is a Health Services Researcher at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Centre for Disease Control where he leads the Digital Public Health Project. He is also the Vice President of the Public Health Association of British Columbia, an Associate Editor at Biomed Central Public Health, and serves as a Research Methodologist at the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes. He has vast work experience in population and public health in both British Columbia and Nigeria. He received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS [MD equivalent]) at the University of Benin, a Master’s in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the Kalu Institute, and a PhD in Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia.
Under the supervision of Dr. Mark Gilbert, Dr. Iyamu will conduct a CTN+ postdoctoral fellowship project titled ‘Sustainability of digital interventions for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections testing in Canada: A multi-methods study.’
Digital interventions, such as GetCheckedOnline, are increasingly implemented in testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) worldwide. Existing evidence indicates acceptability and capacity to facilitate lower barrier STBBI testing with these methods; however, little evidence exists regarding their sustainability. Dr. Iyamu’s postdoctoral fellowship project aims to inform sustainability planning for GetCheckedOnline by: 1) describing factors and processes relevant in the long-term sustainability of GetCheckedOnline and other similar digital STBBI testing platforms within publicly funded health systems; 2) characterizing use patterns of digital STBBI testing; and 3) identifying individual and community-level factors influencing utilization patterns using routinely collected GetCheckedOnline data. Dr. Iyamu is working directly with decision makers and GetCheckedOnline program managers to translate emergent findings into action and will share the findings as reports, presentations, and lay summaries from this study for input, interpretation, and knowledge mobilization.
Over the years, Dr. Iyamu has received several honours and awards, including the Bill Meekison Memorial Scholarship in Public Health, Banting and Best Canada Graduate School Doctoral Award, the CIHR Health Systems Impact Fellowship, and the Michael Smith Trainee Award. He has also authored 40 papers (on which he was first author of 18), three book chapters, and 42 abstracts.
