scholarly journals Study protocol: a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial of a dyadic mobile health intervention for black sexual-minority male couples with HIV in the USA

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e055448
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Cindy Kim ◽  
Lance M Pollack ◽  
Parya Saberi ◽  
Torsten B Neilands ◽  
Emily A Arnold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Male Couples ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Study Staff ◽  
Hiv Care Engagement ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Primary Relationship ◽  
Racial Ethnic

IntroductionHIV care engagement is lower among black sexual-minority men relative to other racial/ethnic groups of sexual-minority men. Being in a primary relationship is generally associated with more successful HIV care engagement across various populations. However, among black sexual-minority men, the association between primary relationship status and HIV-related outcomes is inconsistent across the HIV care continuum. Given the ubiquity of mobile technology access and use among racial/ethnic minority communities, leveraging mobile technology for HIV care engagement appears a promising intervention strategy. This paper outlines the protocol of the LetSync study, a pilot randomised controlled trial of a mobile health app intervention developed using the Framework of Dyadic HIV Care Engagement to improve care-engagement outcomes among black sexual-minority male couples living with HIV.Methods and analysisEighty black sexual-minority men in couples (n=160) will be enrolled to pilot test the LetSync app. At least one member of each dyad must be both HIV-positive and self-identify as black/African-American. Couples will be randomised to either a waitlist-control arm or an intervention that uses relationship-based approach to improve HIV care engagement. We will assess feasibility and acceptability of trial procedures and intervention protocols based on predefined metrics of feasibility and acceptability. Execution of the study will yield the opportunity to conduct analyses to test the measurement and analysis protocol on antiretroviral therapy adherence by comparing the intervention and waitlist-control arms on self-reported and biological (hair sample) measures of adherence.Ethics and disseminationStudy staff will obtain electronic consent from all participants. This study has been approved by the University of California (UCSF) Institutional Review Board. Study staff will work with the Community Advisory Board at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies Board to disseminate results to participants and the community via open discussions, presentations, journal publications and/or social media.Trial registration numberNCT04951544.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a Text Messaging-Based Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intervention for Young Sexual Minority Men: Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary A Gerend ◽  
Krystal Madkins ◽  
Shariell Crosby ◽  
Aaron K Korpak ◽  
Gregory L Phillips ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Hpv Vaccine ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Hpv Vaccination ◽  
Hpv Infection ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men

Abstract Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-related anal cancer. Although a safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent HPV infection, HPV vaccine uptake among young MSM remains low. Purpose This pilot randomized controlled trial tested the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of a text messaging-based HPV vaccination intervention for young sexual minority men. Methods In 2018, unvaccinated sexual minority men aged 18–25 years were recruited from Chicago to participate in a 9 month sexual health program called txt2protect. Participants (N = 150) were randomized to the intervention or control condition. Intervention condition messages focused primarily on HPV vaccination, with only a brief mention of other sexual health practices (e.g., condom use and HIV testing), while control condition messages focused on a variety of sexual health practices with only a brief mention of HPV vaccination. Participants received daily text messages for the first 3 weeks and monthly text messages for the remaining ~8 months of the trial. Participants completed surveys at baseline and 3 week and 9 month follow-ups. Results Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention. Although trial retention was high (with over 88% completing the 9 month survey), the study fell short of meeting its recruitment goal. HPV vaccine series initiation was significantly higher among intervention participants (19.4%) compared to control participants (6.6%), odds ratio = 3.43, 95% confidence interval: 1.17, 10.08. Conclusions Findings suggest that txt2protect is an acceptable and potentially promising intervention for increasing HPV vaccine initiation among young sexual minority men. Clinical Trial Registration NCT02994108.

Optimizing enrollment methods: Lessons learned from an mHealth, pilot HIV prevention randomized controlled trial with sexual minority men

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 703-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason W Mitchell ◽  
Sara Lammert ◽  
Thu Danh ◽  
Keith J Horvath
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Decision Rules ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Enrollment Process

Using data from eligible participants, we evaluated procedures of a multi-step enrollment process for an mHealth, pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to promote regular HIV testing among at-risk, diverse sexual minority men. Completion rates of eligible participants were calculated and characterized for these enrollment procedures. Among 3058 men who screened, 183 were eligible and 113 enrolled. Two groups emerged: “As planned” (n = 98) followed enrollment directions as designed; “Laggers” (n = 15) did not follow these directions and required additional efforts resulting in mixed results for improving enrollment. Findings suggest the need for pre-determined enrollment decision rules based on available resources.

Relationship Power and Intimate Partner Violence in Sexual Minority Male Couples

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052091627
Author(s):  
Stephen C. Bosco ◽  
Gabriel Robles ◽  
Rob Stephenson ◽  
Tyrel J. Starks
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Relationship Power ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Male Couples ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Individual Family ◽  
Minority Men

Objective: The objective of the present study was to test pathways implied by Disempowerment Theory to predict intimate partner violence (IPV) among men in a same-sex relationship. Background: Sexual minority men in relationships experience rates of IPV comparable with heterosexual women, yet most research on IPV focuses on heterosexual couples. Disempowerment Theory suggests that a range of individual, family-of-origin, and intimate relationship risk factors predict the use of violence to re-establish power in a relationship. Method: Data for the present study were gathered from an online survey completed by sexual minority men currently in a same-sex relationship ( n = 339). Analysis of data included two steps: (a) we tested the direct effect of individual, family, and relational predictors on the odds of IPV and (b) we calculated a path model that included relationship power as a link between the predictors (individual, family, and relational) and IPV. Results: In line with Disempowerment Theory, relationship power was negatively associated with IPV. Bivariate analysis indicated an association between childhood sexual abuse and IPV, but childhood sexual abuse was not predictive of IPV through relationship power. Other individual (depression) and relationship-specific (sexual communication and relationship satisfaction) risk factors were associated with IPV indirectly through relationship power. Conclusion: Disempowerment Theory may provide a useful framework for understanding the occurrence of IPV in sexual minority male couples. It may also provide a starting point for the development of multi-component interventions to reduce violence in these couples.

Observational “go‐alongs” of follow‐up HIV care visits of two virally suppressed Black sexual minority men

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek T. Dangerfield ◽  
Allison J. Ober ◽  
Janeane N. Anderson ◽  
Pamina Gorbach ◽  
Ricky N. Bluthenthal
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Status and Psychosocial Resources Mediate Racial/Ethnic Differences in Psychological Health Among Gay and Bisexual Men: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Structural Equation Modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 155798832110011
Author(s):  
Rainier Masa ◽  
Sylvia Shangani ◽  
Don Operario
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Collective Self ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Everyday Discrimination

A large body of research demonstrates disparities in psychological health attributed to sexual minority identity, racial/ethnic minority identity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Fewer studies have explicated the role of these multiple attributes on psychological health and explored the role of SES and psychosocial resources in determining outcomes. We analyzed data from Project STRIDE, a longitudinal survey involving a diverse sample of gay and bisexual adult men ( n = 198). Using structural equation modeling, we tested hypothesized direct and indirect effects of race/ethnicity, SES, and three psychosocial mediational variables (collective self-efficacy, everyday discrimination, internalized homophobia) on two outcome variables—psychological and social well-being—assessed at 1-year follow-up. Our model indicated that: (1) race/ethnicity and SES were significantly associated with each other and with each psychosocial mediator; (2) higher SES was directly and indirectly associated with both measures of well-being; and (3) collective self-esteem and everyday discrimination mediated the association between SES and both measures of well-being. The model also indicated that racial/ethnic associations with psychological mediators and outcomes are evident in the context of SES, but these effects might be suppressed when the model does not consider SES. Findings highlight the critical role of SES and race/ethnicity in determining the psychological and social well-being of sexual minority men. Specification of mediating variables—collective self-efficacy, everyday discrimination, internalized homophobia—indicates potential intervention targets to improve psychological and social health in sexual minority men. Associations between race/ethnicity and SES support the need for intersectional frameworks in addressing the health of sexual minority men.

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