142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Preferences of MSM and HIV Prevention Counselors for a Mobile App Intervention to Increase Frequency of HIV Testing among MSM

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Tamar Goldenberg, MPH , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Sarah McDougal , University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Patrick Sullivan, DVM, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Joanne Stekler, PhD , University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Rob Stephenson, PhD , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: Despite their high prevalence of HIV, many men who have sex with men (MSM) currently fall short of the CDC recommendation of at least annual HIV screening.  A mobile app to support making and implementing an HIV testing plan might help MSM test more frequently. 

Methods: Online and in-person focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with MSM (n=38) and HIV counselors (n=13) in Atlanta, Seattle, and rural U.S. regions, focusing on the preferred features of a mobile app to support HIV testing and prevention. Key informant interviews were conducted with community, state and federal stakeholders. A beta version of the app was theatre tested in FGDs with MSM (n=35) and HIV counselors (n=9).

Results:  MSM expressed strong interest in using the HIV mobile app and counselors and stakeholders identified the value of incorporating it into existing testing and counseling services.  Participants reported that an ideal app would link men to local testing services, but should also link to followup service based on test results, including PrEP, nPEP, and linkage to care.  In theatre testing, participants liked the beta app for its ability to provide comprehensive information on a variety of HIV resources and allow men to monitor and reflect their sexual risk-taking behaviors.

Conclusions: MSM report interest in using a mobile app to plan their HIV testing, but require an app that also includes resources on prevention and HIV care services.  Future effort will develop and test a mobile app to increase HIV testing and linkage to HIV services.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Identify preferences for building a mobile HIV prevention app intervention

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a Public Health Program Associate, I have led multiple private and federally funded HIV qualitative research projects focusing on men who have sex with men.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4137.0: Innovations in HIV Testing Strategies and Technologies