scholarly journals Conducting virtual, synchronous focus groups in HIV prevention research among Black sexual minority men (Preprint)

10.2196/22980 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Dangerfield II ◽  
Charleen Wylie ◽  
Janeane N. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Prevention Research ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Conducting virtual, synchronous focus groups in HIV prevention research among Black sexual minority men (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Dangerfield II ◽  
Charleen Wylie ◽  
Janeane Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Prevention Research ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Group Participation ◽  
Minority Men

BACKGROUND Focus groups are useful to support HIV prevention research among U.S. subpopulations such as Black gay, bisexual, and other Black sexual minority men (BSMM). Virtual synchronous focus groups provide an electronic means to obtaining qualitative data and are convenient to implement. However, the protocols for conducting virtual, synchronous focus groups in HIV prevention research among BSMM are lacking. OBJECTIVE This paper describes the protocols and acceptability of conducting virtual, synchronous focus groups in HIV prevention research among BSMM. METHODS Data come from two studies in which eight virtual, synchronous focus groups among a sample of HIV-negative BSMM in urban U.S. cities such as Baltimore, MD, Los Angeles, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Chicago, IL were conducted (n=39). Participants were recruited from a combination of active and passive recruitment strategies and focus groups were conducted via Zoom. Both studies were stratified by age and included data come from 2 groups of BSMM 18-24, 5 groups of BSMM ages 25-34 and 1 group age 35 years and older. Participants were asked to complete an electronic satisfaction survey distributed to their email through a private email link. RESULTS The age of participants ranged from 18 to 44 years (M=28.3, SD=6.0). Most reported not preferring in-person focus group participation. Regarding virtual focus group participation, 86% reported that they “strongly agreed” that they were satisfied participating in a focus group online, the remainder reported “agree.” Regarding a preference of providing written informed consent, 33% reported “strongly disagree,” 13.3% reported “disagree,” and 36.7% reported “neither agree nor disagree.” Regarding privacy, most reported “strongly agree” or “agree” that their information was safe to share with other participants in the group. Regarding the incentive, 44.8% reported strongly agreeing that they were satisfied with the incentive and 51.7% reported ‘agree.” CONCLUSIONS Conducting virtual, synchronous focus groups in HIV prevention research among BSMM is feasible. However, careful consideration and attention to safety, privacy, and culture is necessary for optimal focus group participation. Focus group facilitators must be explicitly trained to build rapport, ensure privacy, thoroughly explain study goals and safety protocols, and manage focus groups among BSMM. Conducting virtual, synchronous focus groups could be a useful modality to recruit and engage BSMM who are otherwise hard-to-reach.

scholarly journals Structural Barriers to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Young Sexual Minority Men: The P18 Cohort Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Jaiswal ◽  
Marybec Griffin ◽  
Stuart N. Singer ◽  
Richard E. Greene ◽  
Ingrid Lizette Zambrano Acosta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Hiv Prevention Strategies ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Background: Despite decreasing rates of HIV among many populations, HIV-related health disparities among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men persist, with disproportional percentages of new HIV diagnoses among racial and ethnic minority men. Despite increasing awareness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), PrEP use remains low. In addition to exploring individual-level factors for this slow uptake, structural drivers of PrEP use must also be identified in order to maximize the effectiveness of biomedical HIV prevention strategies. Method: Using cross-sectional data from an ongoing cohort study of young sexual minority men (N=492), we examine the extent to which structural-level barriers, including access to health care, medication logistics, counseling support, and stigma are related to PrEP use. Results: While almost all participants indicated awareness of PrEP, only 14% had ever used PrEP. PrEP use was associated with lower concerns about health care access, particularly paying for PrEP. Those with greater concerns talking with their provider about their sexual behaviors were less likely to use PrEP. Conclusion: Paying for PrEP and talking to one’s provider about sexual behaviors are concerns for young sexual minority men. In particular, stigma from healthcare providers poses a significant barrier to PrEP use in this population. Providers need not only to increase their own awareness of and advocacy for PrEP as an effective risk-management strategy for HIV prevention, but also must work to create open and non-judgmental spaces in which patients can discuss sexual behaviors without the fear of stigma.

Identifying ethical and culturally responsive research activities to improve PrEP tele-health clinical trial participation among Black sexual minority men: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek T. Dangerfield II ◽  
Charleen Wylie
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Culturally Responsive ◽  
Research Participation ◽  
Trial Participation ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Recruitment Activities ◽  
Minority Men

BACKGROUND Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) substantially reduces risk of HIV infection. Tele-health interventions could improve PrEP initiation and adherence for high incidence groups such as Black sexual minority men (BSMM). However, BSMM remain underrepresented in clinical trials and culturally responsive ways to improve PrEP tele-health trial participation among BSMM is needed. OBJECTIVE To fill this gap, this study identified ethical and culturally responsive study activities to improve PrEP tele-health clinical trials participation among BSMM. METHODS Data come from seven virtual, synchronous focus groups among 28 BSMM ages 18-34 were conducted from April to August 2020 to identify culturally responsive research activities to improve PrEP clinical trial research participation. Focus groups included a brief survey followed distributed online via Qualtrics™ followed by a virtual, synchronous focus group conducted via Zoom lasting between 50 and 75 minutes. Focus groups were stratified by age (18-24 vs 25-34) and outlined the components of an example PrEP tele-health randomized controlled trial and probed on domains of the study design- research motivations, study funding, recruitment activities, informed consent, randomization, follow-up, and end of the study activities. Participants were asked targeted questions regarding the ethics and trustworthiness of the study and ways that researchers could gain their trust in the PrEP tele-health trial along the protocol. RESULTS Focus groups resulted in 2 groups of 18-24 year olds and 5 groups of 25-35 year olds. The average age of participants was 27.2 years (SD 4.4). Ten (38.4) reported a bachelor’s degree was their highest education completed; 21% reported some graduate degree or higher. Most reported working full-time (57.1%) and being single or not in a committed relationship (75%). Most (85.7) reported using at least one drug before sex in the 6 months prior to study. Everyone reported ever hearing about PrEP and 35% were current PrEP users. Overall, focus groups yielded themes related to how researcher intentions, study funding, recruitment activities, informed consent details, randomization, and study team interactions during and after during the study impact trust and participation. CONCLUSIONS Medical/research mistrust persists among BSMM. Given the salience of medical mistrust, future studies should test the relative impact of implementing findings on research participation in a PrEP tele-health clinical trial.

Factors associated with barriers to engagement in HIV-prevention care among sexual minority men

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey Harkness ◽  
Sierra A. Bainter ◽  
Noelle A. Mendez ◽  
Daniel Hernandez Altamirano ◽  
Conall O’Cleirigh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Minority Men

Sexual minority men want provider behavior consistent with attitudes and norms during patient-provider interactions regarding HIV prevention

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-367
Author(s):  
Eva N. Woodward ◽  
Jessica L. Cunningham ◽  
Anthony W. P. Flynn ◽  
Ethan H. Mereish ◽  
Regina J. Banks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Provider Behavior ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Psychological Distress, Felt Stigma, and HIV Prevention in a National Probability Sample of Sexual Minority Men

LGBT Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 190-197
Author(s):  
Evan A. Krueger ◽  
Ian W. Holloway ◽  
Marguerita Lightfoot ◽  
Andy Lin ◽  
Phillip L. Hammack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Probability Sample ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
National Probability Sample
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