Outcome findings from a pilot test of the CyBER/testing: An Internet intervention designed to increase HIV testing among MSM

Background: The Internet has emerged as an important tool for social networking and support, meeting friends and sexual partners, and building community. However, seeking sex on the Internet also has been identified as a risk factor for HIV and sexually transmitted disease infection among MSM.

Methods: Our community-based participatory research partnership developed and piloted CyBER/testing, a culturally congruent intervention designed to promote HIV testing within Internet chat rooms. The intervention was implemented for 6 months within one geographically oriented chat room designed for social and sexual networking among MSM. Using a quasi-experimental, single-group study design, cross-sectional data were collected from chat room participants at pretest and post-test. Extant profile data also were collected to describe the demographics of a sample of the general chat room population.

Results: Mean age of the chatters at pretest (n=346) was 37.2 years, 71.3% self-identified as white, and 20% reported having sex with both men and women. There were no significant demographic differences between chatters who participated in the pretest and the post-test and the sample of the general population of chatters. However, those in the posttest had significantly higher self-reported HIV testing rates: 44.5% at pretest and nearly 59.4% at post-test (P<.001). Furthermore, chatters who reported having both male and female partners had 6 times the odds of reporting HIV testing at post-test (P<.001).

Conclusions: Chat room interventions may increase testing among MSM who may be difficult to reach in traditional physical spaces and among those who have sex with both men and women.