scholarly journals The Value and Challenge of Frequent Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce R Schackman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Young Men ◽  
The United States ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Sex With Men

scholarly journals Optimizing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Interventions for Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: A Modeling Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin P. Delaney ◽  
Eli S. Rosenberg ◽  
Michael R. Kramer ◽  
Lance A. Waller ◽  
Patrick S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Viral Suppression ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Test Sensitivity ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract Background.  In the United States, public health recommendations for men who have sex with men (MSM) include testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at least annually. We model the impact of different possible HIV testing policies on HIV incidence in a simulated population parameterized to represent US MSM. Methods.  We used exponential random graph models to explore, among MSM, the short-term impact on baseline (under current HIV testing practices and care linkage) HIV incidence of the following: (1) increasing frequency of testing; (2) increasing the proportion who ever test; (3) increasing test sensitivity; (4) increasing the proportion of the diagnosed population achieving viral suppression; and combinations of 1–4. We simulated each scenario 20 times and calculated the median and interquartile range of 3-year cumulative incidence of HIV infection. Results.  The only intervention that reduced HIV incidence on its own was increasing the proportion of the diagnosed population achieving viral suppression; increasing frequency of testing, the proportion that ever test or test sensitivity did not appreciably reduce estimated incidence. However, in an optimal scenario in which viral suppression improved to 100%, HIV incidence could be reduced by an additional 17% compared with baseline by increasing testing frequency to every 90 days and test sensitivity to 22 days postinfection. Conclusions.  Increased frequency, coverage, or sensitivity of HIV testing among MSM is unlikely to result in reduced HIV incidence unless men diagnosed through enhanced testing programs are also engaged in effective HIV care resulting in viral suppression at higher rates than currently observed.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United States

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Hariri ◽  
Matthew T. McKenna
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
True Incidence ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Fundamental Shift

SUMMARY The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic emerged in the early 1980s with HIV infection as a highly lethal disease among men who have sex with men and among frequent recipients of blood product transfusions. Advances in the treatment of HIV infection have resulted in a fundamental shift in its epidemiology, to a potentially chronic and manageable condition. However, challenges in the prevention of this infection remain. In particular, increasing evidence suggests that transmission of drug-resistant virus is becoming more common and that the epidemic is having a profound impact on morbidity and mortality in ethnic and racial minority subgroups in the United States. New population-based data collection systems designed to describe trends in behaviors associated with HIV transmission and better methods for measuring the true incidence of transmission will better elucidate the characteristics of HIV infection in the United States and inform future public health policies.

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

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