scholarly journals A Gamified Smartphone App to Support Engagement in Care and Medication Adherence for HIV-Positive Young Men Who Have Sex With Men (AllyQuest): Development and Pilot Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Hightow-Weidman ◽  
Kathryn Muessig ◽  
Kelly Knudtson ◽  
Mala Srivatsa ◽  
Ellena Lawrence ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Art Adherence ◽  
Engagement In Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Advisory Boards ◽  
Sex With Men

BACKGROUND HIV disproportionately impacts young men who have sex with men (YMSM) who experience disparities across the HIV care continuum. Addressing antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among YMSM is an urgent public health priority. Technology-based interventions—particularly mobile health platforms—can provide tailored adherence interventions and allow YMSM to engage and connect with others. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to describe the development of AllyQuest, a novel, theoretically-based, smartphone app designed to improve engagement in care and ART adherence and social support among HIV-positive YMSM. METHODS AllyQuest was built on an established platform for patient engagement that embeds social networking and fundamental game mechanics, such as challenges, points, and rewards. A medication tracker provides reminders to promote ART adherence via personalized adherence strategies that are user and context specific; a calendar allows for reflection on adherence over time. After iterative development with input from two youth advisory boards, usability testing was conducted to assess app functionality, comprehension of the educational content, use of intervention features, and overall impressions of app relevance and appeal. A 28-day pilot trial was conducted with 20 HIV+ YMSM to evaluate intervention feasibility and acceptability. RESULTS Mean age of participants was 21.8 years (range 19-24), and 95% (19/20) of the participants were nonwhite. The mean time of app use was 158.4 min (SD 114.1), with a range of 13 to 441 min. There was a mean of 21.2 days of use (out of a total possible 28 days). There were 222 posts to the daily discussion social wall. Feasibility and acceptability ratings were high. Overall, participants found the app easy to use and navigate, not intrusive, and had few reported technical issues. Higher levels of app usage were positively correlated with HIV self-management outcomes, and there was a statistically significant (P<.05) positive association between the number of days logged into the app and knowledge and confidence in ability to reliably take HIV medications. CONCLUSIONS AllyQuest represents a new, highly scalable solution that is well-suited to meet the specific prevention and care needs of HIV+ YMSM. The development of this intervention is both timely and vital, given the urgency of the ongoing HIV epidemic among YMSM.

scholarly journals WYZ: Results of a pilot study of a mobile health application for engagement in care and antiretroviral therapy adherence among youth and young adults living with HIV (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parya Saberi ◽  
Nadra E. Lisha ◽  
Xavier A. Erguera ◽  
Estie S. Hudes ◽  
Mallory O. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Art Adherence ◽  
Engagement In Care ◽  
Youth And Young Adults ◽  
Living With Hiv

BACKGROUND Youth are globally recognized as being vulnerable to HIV. Younger age has been correlated with worse health outcomes. Mobile health (mHealth) delivered interventions have the potential to meet youth where they are, using a device they already access. OBJECTIVE Using pre-defined benchmarks, we sought to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of WYZ, an mHealth application, for improved engagement in care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among youth and young adults living with HIV (YLWH). WYZ was designed and developed with input from YLWH using a Human-Centered Design approach and based on the Information, Motivation, Behavioral Skills framework to address common barriers to care and ART adherence among YLWH. METHODS We recruited YLWH (18–29 years old) in the San Francisco Bay Area to take part in a six-month pilot trial. Their participation included completing a baseline and exit survey and participating in seven phone check-ins about their use of WYZ. RESULTS YLWH (N= 79) reported high levels of feasibility and acceptability with WYZ use. We met pre-defined benchmarks for recruitment, mean log-ins per week, tracking ART adherence, posting chat topics, and app crashes reported. Ease of app download, install, and set up, as well as comfort with security, privacy, and anonymity were highly rated. Additionally, participants reported high satisfaction for a research project that was remotely conducted. Participants used the app for shorter timeframes compared to the pre-defined benchmarks. CONCLUSIONS We noted high feasibility and acceptability with WYZ. Further research to examine the efficacy of WYZ will enable YLWH and their providers to make informed decisions when using, recommending, and prescribing it for improved engagement in HIV care and ART adherence. CLINICALTRIAL NCT03587857

A qualitative study of Thai HIV-positive young men who have sex with men and transgender women demonstrates the need for eHealth interventions to optimize the HIV care continuum

AIDS Care ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 870-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarandeep Anand ◽  
Chattiya Nitpolprasert ◽  
Stephen J. Kerr ◽  
Kathryn E. Muessig ◽  
Sangusa Promthong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Care Continuum ◽  
Care Continuum ◽  
Sex With Men

scholarly journals The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (11.1) ◽  
pp. 122S-127S
Author(s):  
Maryana Sluzhynska ◽  
Olga Denisiuk ◽  
Ruzanna Grigoryan ◽  
Yulia Sereda ◽  
Gennadiy Slabkiy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Medical Doctor ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Mode Of Transmission ◽  
Sex With Men

Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the key populations driving HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. To date, MSM is the only population in Ukraine where the prevalence and incidence of HIV is increasing. As HIV-positive MSM might feel uncomfortable to report homosexual intercourses as a possible mode of transmission (MoT) of HIV, they prefer being registered as patients with heterosexual or non-defined MoT. This study aimed to calculate the proportion of misclassified MoT among HIV-positive MSM registered in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, during 2014-2018. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 127 HIV-positive MSM patients from Lviv region for the period of 2014-2018. Results: Out of 127 HIV-positive MSM included in the study, 110 (86.6%) were from urban areas. In addition, 52 patients (40.9%) were diagnosed with stage 1 HIV, 16 (12.6%) – stage 2, 19 (15%) – stage 3, and 36 (28.3%) – stage 4. CD4 count < 200 cells/μL was found in 35 (27.6%) patients. Mean time from registration to antiretroviral therapy initiation was 80 days. During the first visit to medical doctor out of those 48 patients who had previously reported “other modes” of HIV transmission, 33 patients (68.7%) disclosed homosexual MoT of HIV. The remaining 15 (31.3%) patients disclosed their homosexual MoT of HIV later – during their regular follow-up visits to the doctor. Conclusion: Special measures are needed to improve the reporting of homosexual MoT which can potentially strengthen the HIV care among MSM.

scholarly journals Assessing mobile technology use and mHealth acceptance among HIV-positive men who have sex with men and transgender women in Malaysia

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248705
Author(s):  
Archana Krishnan ◽  
Damian Weikum ◽  
Claire Cravero ◽  
Adeeba Kamarulzaman ◽  
Frederick L. Altice
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Risky Sexual Behavior ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Art Adherence ◽  
Unsafe Sex ◽  
Cross Dressing ◽  
Sex With Men

Background Mobile health (mHealth) can be beneficial in monitoring the complex healthcare regimen for people with HIV that includes adhering to medication and refraining from risky practices such as unsafe sex and injection drug use. Not only is mHealth often implemented without appropriate feasibility and acceptability research, but there is limited mHealth research among key HIV-positive populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). Methods This study assessed access to and use of mobile technology and acceptability of mHealth among 150 HIV-positive MSM and TGW who were prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Malaysia–an emerging economy with rapid telecommunications growth and societal stigma against these groups. Results Findings among the 114 MSM and 36 TGW reveal high levels of depression (42%), stigma (2.53/4.00) and risky sexual behavior (30%), and suboptimal ART adherence (22%). On the other hand, the sample had excellent access to smartphones (75.3%) and the internet (78%), and had high acceptance of mHealth especially for those with suboptimal ART adherence. Conclusion In settings like Malaysia where homosexuality and cross-dressing are socially and legally stigmatized, HIV prevention and treatment strategies delivered using an mHealth platform have the potential to overcome in-person barriers.

Engaging Young Men in the HIV Prevention and Care Continua: Experiences From Young Men of Color Who Have Sex With Men

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-343
Author(s):  
Katrina Kubicek ◽  
William J. Beyer ◽  
Carolyn F. Wong ◽  
Michele D. Kipke
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Health Care Research ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Men Of Color ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
The Continuum

Sexual minority individuals experience barriers to receiving equitable health care. Research also indicates that young men who have sex with men (YMSM), particularly young men of color, have limited engagement in the HIV care continuum and there are significant disparities across the continuum. This study aims to uncover how providers can engage YMSM of color in all forms of care, including primary care and HIV prevention through an HIV prevention continuum. This qualitative study reports data from the Healthy Young Men's Cohort Study; a total of 49 YMSM participated in the eight focus groups. This study provides a description of YMSM's overall health concerns, experiences with health care, and under what circumstances YMSM seek care. We then present a model describing the salient characteristics of a HIV prevention continuum for YMSM of color and provide clear areas for education, intervention, and policy change to support better overall health for YMSM of color.

scholarly journals Pilot implementation of a home-care programme with chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, and syphilis self-sampling in HIV-positive men who have sex with men

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Leenen ◽  
C. J. P. A. Hoebe ◽  
R. P. Ackens ◽  
D. Posthouwer ◽  
I. H. M. van Loo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Programme ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract Background Not all men who have sex with men (MSM) at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection currently receive sexual healthcare. To increase the coverage of high-quality HIV/STI care for MSM, we developed a home-care programme, as extended STI clinic care. This programme included home sampling for testing, combined with treatment and sexual health counselling. Here, we pilot implemented the programme in a hospital setting (HIV-positive MSM) to determine the factors for the successful implementation of STI home sampling strategies. Methods Healthcare providers from the HIV hospital treatment centre (Maastricht) were invited to offer free STI sampling kits (syphilis, hepatitis B, [extra]genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea laboratory testing) to their HIV-positive MSM patients (March to May 2018). To evaluate implementation of the program, quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess adoption (HIV care providers offered sampling kits to MSM), participation (MSM accepted the sampling kits) and sampling-kit return, STI diagnoses, and implementation experiences. Results Adoption was 85.3% (110/129), participation was 58.2% (64/110), and sampling-kit return was 43.8% (28/64). Of the tested MSM, 64.3% (18/28) did not recently (< 3 months) undergo a STI test; during the programme, 17.9% (5/28) were diagnosed with an STI. Of tested MSM, 64.3% (18/28) was vaccinated against hepatitis B. MSM reported that the sampling kits were easily and conveniently used. Care providers (hospital and STI clinic) considered the programme acceptable and feasible, with some logistical challenges. All (100%) self-taken chlamydia and gonorrhoea samples were adequate for testing, and 82.1% (23/28) of MSM provided sufficient self-taken blood samples for syphilis screening. However, full syphilis diagnostic work-up required for MSM with a history of syphilis (18/28) was not possible in 44.4% (8/18) of MSM because of insufficient blood sampled. Conclusion The home sampling programme increased STI test uptake and was acceptable and feasible for MSM and their care providers. Return of sampling kits should be further improved. The home-care programme is a promising extension of regular STI care to deliver comprehensive STI care to the home setting for MSM. Yet, in an HIV-positive population, syphilis diagnosis may be challenging when using self-taken blood samples.

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