Use of mobile health initiatives in HIV research: A feasibility study of utilizing smartphones for event level sexual activity data collection

Introduction: HIV prevention research studies among MSM often require participants to recall highly-detailed information (e.g., condom usage, role performed) for each encounter over a three to six month recall period. The data is likely compromised, as participants are unlikely to be able to recall the frequency of each encounter as well as its contextual characteristics. Improved data collection methods are needed.

Methods: Using input from potential participants during focus groups, we designed a smartphone application (app) that acts as an electronic sexual activity diary. The app enables participants to maintain a “black book” with HIV status, ratings, and notes of their partners and record event level details about each sexual act including type of activity pertinent to HIV transmission (oral sex, anal sex), condom usage, and exposure to ejaculate.

Results: Thirty MSM in San Francisco were enrolled into a pilot study of the app. Participants will use the app daily for three months. Preliminary results suggest high dairy completion rates and overall high satisfaction with using the app. Aggregate sexual activity data will be compared to a standard retrospective recall survey administered at the end of the three month pilot testing period.

Conclusion: Use of a smartphone app that acts a daily electronic sex diary to collect event level sexual activity data holds promise. This app allows data to be collected within twenty-four hours of its occurrence, improving completeness and accuracy of data. As the number of smartphone owners increases, this methodology can become more incorporated within HIV prevention research.