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The MyPEEPS Randomized Controlled Trial: A Pilot of Preliminary Efficacy, Feasibility, and Acceptability of a Group-Level, HIV Risk Reduction Intervention for Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

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Abstract

An exigent need exists for HIV prevention intervention research targeting young men who have sex with men (MSM)-a group of young adults that, despite composing the highest and most racially disproportionate rates of HIV incidence, have been least often the focus of behavioral intervention research. This pilot study tested a group-based HIV primary prevention intervention for young MSM to evaluate its initial efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability. Participants were randomized (N = 101; aged 16–20 years) to one of two group-level, HIV and STI education programs: controls participated in a non-interactive, lecture-based program, while intervention participants took part in a highly interactive program tailored to young MSM aged 16–20. Sexual risk and social cognitive outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6-, and 12-weeks post-intervention. Over the entire follow-up period, intervention participants were less likely than controls to engage in any sexual behavior while under the influence of substances (p < .05), and a decreasing trend in unprotected anal sex while under the influence of substances was also observed in this group (p = .08). Follow-up differences between groups on social cognitive outcomes favored the intervention group, though these differences were non-significant. Acceptability ratings were modest. A 6-session behavioral intervention tailored to young MSM, aged 16–20, is feasible, acceptable, and demonstrates evidence of preliminary efficacy in reducing sexual risk, specifically sexual risk while under the influence of substances.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Roger Fierro, Mr. John Thompson, and Drs. Christopher Cotten and Geri Donenberg. The project described was supported by Award Number R34 MH079707 from the National Institute of Mental Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave, Box 161, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Marco A. Hidalgo, Lisa M. Kuhns, Amy K. Johnson & Robert Garofalo

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Marco A. Hidalgo

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lisa M. Kuhns & Robert Garofalo

  4. Chicago Development Center for AIDS Research, John H. Stroger Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA

    Anna L. Hotton

  5. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Brian Mustanski

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  1. Marco A. Hidalgo
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  2. Lisa M. Kuhns
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  3. Anna L. Hotton
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  4. Amy K. Johnson
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  5. Brian Mustanski
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  6. Robert Garofalo
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Correspondence to Marco A. Hidalgo.

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Hidalgo, M.A., Kuhns, L.M., Hotton, A.L. et al. The MyPEEPS Randomized Controlled Trial: A Pilot of Preliminary Efficacy, Feasibility, and Acceptability of a Group-Level, HIV Risk Reduction Intervention for Young Men Who Have Sex with Men. Arch Sex Behav 44, 475–485 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0347-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0347-6

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