scholarly journals Development and Evaluation of a Mobile App Designed to Increase HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Open Pilot Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie B Biello ◽  
Jonathan Hill-Rorie ◽  
Pablo K Valente ◽  
Donna Futterman ◽  
Patrick S Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Young Men ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Exit Interviews ◽  
System Usability Scale ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

BACKGROUND HIV disproportionately affects young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in the United States. Uptake of evidence-based prevention strategies, including routine HIV testing and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is suboptimal in this population. Novel methods for reaching YMSM are required. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to describe the development and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the MyChoices app, a mobile app designed to increase HIV testing and PrEP use among YMSM in the United States. METHODS Informed by the social cognitive theory, the MyChoices app was developed using an iterative process to increase HIV testing and PrEP uptake among YMSM. In 2017, <i>beta</i> theater testing was conducted in two US cities to garner feedback (n=4 groups; n=28 YMSM). These findings were used to refine MyChoices, which was then tested for initial acceptability and usability in a technical pilot (N=11 YMSM). Baseline and 2-month postbaseline assessments and exit interviews were completed. Transcripts were coded using a deductive approach, and thematic analysis was used to synthesize data; app acceptability and use data were also reported. RESULTS The MyChoices app includes personalized recommendations for HIV testing frequency and PrEP use; information on types of HIV tests and PrEP; ability to search for nearby HIV testing and PrEP care sites; and ability to order free home HIV and sexually transmitted infection test kits, condoms, and lube. In theater testing, YMSM described that MyChoices appears useful and that they would recommend it to peers. Participants liked the <i>look and feel</i> of the app and believed that the ability to search for and be <i>pinged</i> when near an HIV testing site would be beneficial. Some suggested that portions of the app felt repetitive and preferred using casual language rather than formal or medicalized terms. Following theater testing, the MyChoices app was refined, and participants in the technical pilot used the app, on average, 8 (SD 5.0; range 2-18) times over 2 months, with an average duration of 28 (SD 38.9) minutes per session. At the 2-month follow-up, the mean System Usability Scale (0-100) score was 71 (ie, above average; SD 11.8). Over 80% (9/11) of the participants reported that MyChoices was useful and 91% (10/11) said that they would recommend it to a friend. In exit interviews, there was a high level of acceptability for the content, interface, and features. CONCLUSIONS These data show the initial acceptability and user engagement of the MyChoices app. If future studies demonstrate efficacy in increasing HIV testing and PrEP uptake, the app is scalable to reach YMSM across the United States. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03179319; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03179319 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/10694

scholarly journals Development and Evaluation of a Mobile App Designed to Increase HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Open Pilot Trial

10.2196/25107 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. e25107
Author(s):  
Katie B Biello ◽  
Jonathan Hill-Rorie ◽  
Pablo K Valente ◽  
Donna Futterman ◽  
Patrick S Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Young Men ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Exit Interviews ◽  
System Usability Scale ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Background HIV disproportionately affects young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in the United States. Uptake of evidence-based prevention strategies, including routine HIV testing and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is suboptimal in this population. Novel methods for reaching YMSM are required. Objective The aim of this study is to describe the development and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the MyChoices app, a mobile app designed to increase HIV testing and PrEP use among YMSM in the United States. Methods Informed by the social cognitive theory, the MyChoices app was developed using an iterative process to increase HIV testing and PrEP uptake among YMSM. In 2017, beta theater testing was conducted in two US cities to garner feedback (n=4 groups; n=28 YMSM). These findings were used to refine MyChoices, which was then tested for initial acceptability and usability in a technical pilot (N=11 YMSM). Baseline and 2-month postbaseline assessments and exit interviews were completed. Transcripts were coded using a deductive approach, and thematic analysis was used to synthesize data; app acceptability and use data were also reported. Results The MyChoices app includes personalized recommendations for HIV testing frequency and PrEP use; information on types of HIV tests and PrEP; ability to search for nearby HIV testing and PrEP care sites; and ability to order free home HIV and sexually transmitted infection test kits, condoms, and lube. In theater testing, YMSM described that MyChoices appears useful and that they would recommend it to peers. Participants liked the look and feel of the app and believed that the ability to search for and be pinged when near an HIV testing site would be beneficial. Some suggested that portions of the app felt repetitive and preferred using casual language rather than formal or medicalized terms. Following theater testing, the MyChoices app was refined, and participants in the technical pilot used the app, on average, 8 (SD 5.0; range 2-18) times over 2 months, with an average duration of 28 (SD 38.9) minutes per session. At the 2-month follow-up, the mean System Usability Scale (0-100) score was 71 (ie, above average; SD 11.8). Over 80% (9/11) of the participants reported that MyChoices was useful and 91% (10/11) said that they would recommend it to a friend. In exit interviews, there was a high level of acceptability for the content, interface, and features. Conclusions These data show the initial acceptability and user engagement of the MyChoices app. If future studies demonstrate efficacy in increasing HIV testing and PrEP uptake, the app is scalable to reach YMSM across the United States. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03179319; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03179319 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/10694

Estimating the influence of Twitter on pre-exposure prophylaxis use and HIV testing as a function of rates of men who have sex with men in the United States

AIDS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. S101-S109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Man-pui Sally Chan ◽  
Alex Morales ◽  
Maria Zlotorzynska ◽  
Patrick Sullivan ◽  
Travis Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

scholarly journals Suboptimal Recent and Regular HIV Testing Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Liu ◽  
Vincent M. B. Silenzio ◽  
Robertson Nash ◽  
Patrick Luther ◽  
Jose Bauermeister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Black Men ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sex With Men

scholarly journals Qualitative Consumer Research on Acceptance of Long-Acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Products Among Men Having Sex with Men and Medical Practitioners in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 849-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bobby J. Calder ◽  
Robert J. Schieffer ◽  
Ewa Bryndza Tfaily ◽  
Richard D'Aquila ◽  
George J. Greene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Consumer Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Long Acting ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

scholarly journals Estimated Impact of Targeted Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: Strategies for Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Elion ◽  
Mina Kabiri ◽  
Kenneth H. Mayer ◽  
David A. Wohl ◽  
Joshua Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Black Msm ◽  
Number Needed To Treat ◽  
Latino Msm ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Young Black Msm ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Black And Latino

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively reduces human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. We aimed to estimate the impact of different PrEP prioritization strategies among Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, populations most disproportionately affected by HIV. We developed an agent-based simulation to model the HIV epidemic among MSM. Individuals were assigned an HIV incidence risk index (HIRI-MSM) based on their sexual behavior. Prioritization strategies included PrEP use for individuals with HIRI-MSM ≥10 among all MSM, all Black MSM, young (≤25 years) Black MSM, Latino MSM, and young Latino MSM. We estimated the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one HIV infection, reductions in prevalence and incidence, and subsequent infections in non-PrEP users avoided under these strategies over 5 years (2016–2020). Young Black MSM eligible for PrEP had the lowest NNT (NNT = 10) followed by all Black MSM (NNT = 33) and young Latino MSM (NNT = 35). All Latino MSM and all MSM had NNT values of 63 and 70, respectively. Secondary infection reduction with PrEP was the highest among young Latino MSM (53.2%) followed by young Black MSM (37.8%). Targeting all MSM had the greatest reduction in prevalence (14.7% versus 2.9%–3.9% in other strategies) and incidence (49.4% versus 9.4%–13.9% in other groups). Using data representative of the United States MSM population, we found that a strategy of universal PrEP use by MSM was most effective in reducing HIV prevalence and incidence of MSM. Targeted use of PrEP by Black and Latino MSM, however, especially those ≤25 years, had the greatest impact on HIV prevention.

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