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

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.