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The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Technology-Based Daily Diaries with HIV-Infected Young Men Who have Sex with Men: A Comparison of Internet and Voice Modalities

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Abstract

This study delivered a daily diary to 67 HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) between 16 and 24 years old for 66 days to measure HIV-risk behaviors and other psychosocial variables via two diary modalities: internet (accessible via any web-enabled device) and voice (accessible via telephone). Participants were randomized to complete one diary modality for 33 days before switching to the second modality for 33 days. The study was implemented in three urban HIV health care centers in the United States where participants were receiving services. Through diary data and qualitative interview data, we examined the feasibility and acceptability of the dairies and identified barriers and facilitators of dairy compliance. Results show high participant retention in the daily diary (93.4 %) and high compliance for the number of dairies completed (72.4 %). Internet diaries were preferred by 92 % of participants and completed at a significantly higher rate (77.5 %) than voice diaries (67.7 %). Facilitators included opportunities for self-reflection and cathartic sharing, monetary compensation, relationships with study staff, and daily reminders. Barriers included being busy or not having privacy at the time of reminders, forgetting, and falling asleep. Participants also described barriers and facilitators unique to each modality. Overall, both modalities were feasible and acceptable for use with our sample of HIV-infected MSM.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by The Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) from the National Institutes of Health [U01 HD040533 and U01 HD040474] through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (B. Kapogiannis, S. Lee), with supplemental funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (S. Kahana, K. Davenny) and National Institute on Mental Health (S. Allison). This study was scientifically reviewed by the ATN’s Behavioral Leadership Group. Scientific and logistical support was provided by the ATN Coordinating Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Network operations support was provided by the ATN Data and Operations Center at Westat, Inc. (J. Korelitz, B. Driver). We acknowledge the contribution of the investigators and staff at the following sites that participated in this study: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Douglas, Tanney, Schlupp), Wayne State University (Secord, Cromer, Green-Jones), University of Colorado Denver (Reirden, Hahn, Miller). The authors would like to extend special thanks to Anna Schlupp, Hannah Bernath, Kalina Miller, and Monique Jones for their hard work in implementing the study and working with participants and to Gertraud Stadler for assistance with statistical analysis and study design. The authors are grateful to the members of the local youth ATN Community Advisory Boards and to the youth who participated in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W. 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Emily M. Cherenack & Patrick A. Wilson

  2. Department of Psychology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, USA

    Andrew M. Kreuzman

  3. Westat, Rockville, MD, USA

    Georgine N. Price

Authors
  1. Emily M. Cherenack
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  2. Patrick A. Wilson
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  3. Andrew M. Kreuzman
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  4. Georgine N. Price
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The Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions

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Correspondence to Patrick A. Wilson.

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Cherenack, E.M., Wilson, P.A., Kreuzman, A.M. et al. The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Technology-Based Daily Diaries with HIV-Infected Young Men Who have Sex with Men: A Comparison of Internet and Voice Modalities. AIDS Behav 20, 1744–1753 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1302-4

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