Behavioral efficacy of a sexual health mobile app for men who have sex with men: randomized controlled trial of mobile messaging for men
Loading...
Files
Authors
Sullivan, Patrick Sean
Stephenson, Rob
Hirshfield, Sabina
Mehta, Cyra Christina
Zahn, Ryan
Bauermeister, Jose A.
Horvath, Keith
Chiasson, Mary Ann
Gelaude, Deborah
Mullin, Shelby
Issue Date
2022-02-02
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
HIV Prevention , mHealth , Tool , Video , Randomized Clinical Trial , App , Prevention , HIV , PrEP , STI , Testing , Behavior , Efficacy , Men Who Have Sex With Men , MSM , Sexuality , Gay , Bisexual , United States
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background:
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) face the highest burden of HIV in the United States, and there is a paucity of efficacious mobile health (mHealth) HIV prevention and care interventions tailored specifically for GBMSM. We tested a mobile app combining prevention messages and access to core prevention services for GBMSM.
Objective:
This study aims to measure the efficacy of the Mobile Messaging for Men (M-cubed) app and related services to increase HIV prevention and care behaviors in diverse US GBMSM.
Methods:
We conducted a randomized open-label study with a waitlist control group among GBMSM in 3 groups (low-risk HIV-negative group, high-risk HIV-negative group, and living-with-HIV [LWH] group) recruited online and in venues in Atlanta, Detroit, and New York City. Participants were randomly assigned to receive access to the app immediately or at 9 months after randomization. The app provided prevention messages in 6 domains of sexual health and offered ordering of at-home HIV and sexually transmitted infection test kits, receiving preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) evaluations and navigation, and service locators. Serostatus- and risk-specific prevention outcomes were evaluated at baseline, at the end of the intervention period, and at 3, 6, and 9 months after the intervention period.
Results:
In total, 1226 GBMSM were enrolled and randomized; of these 611 (49.84%) were assigned to the intervention group and 608 (99.51%) were analyzed, while 615 (50.16%) were assigned to the control group and 612 (99.51%) were analyzed. For high-risk GBMSM, allocation to the intervention arm was associated with higher odds of HIV testing during the intervention period (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.02, 95% CI 1.11-3.66) and with higher odds of using PrEP in the 3 months after the intervention period (aOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.00-5.76, P<.05). No changes in HIV prevention or care were associated with allocation to the intervention arm for the low-risk HIV-negative and LWH groups.
Conclusions:
Access to the M-cubed app was associated with increased HIV testing and PrEP use among high-risk HIV-negative GBMSM in 3 US cities. The app could be made available through funded HIV prevention providers; additional efforts are needed to understand optimal strategies to implement the app outside of the research setting.
Description
Citation
Sullivan, P. S., Stephenson, R., Hirshfield, S., Mehta, C. C., Zahn, R., Bauermeister, J. A., Horvath, K., Chiasson, M. A., Gelaude, D., Mullin, S., Downing, M. J., Jr, Olansky, E. J., Wiatrek, S., Rogers, E. Q., Rosenberg, E., Siegler, A. J., & Mansergh, G. (2022). Behavioral Efficacy of a Sexual Health Mobile App for Men Who Have Sex With Men: Randomized Controlled Trial of Mobile Messaging for Men. Journal of medical Internet research, 24(2), e34574. https://doi.org/10.2196/34574
Publisher
Journal of Medical Internet Research