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Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy of a Tailored Online HIV/STI Testing Intervention for Young Men who have Sex with Men: The Get Connected! Program

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Abstract

Southeast Michigan accounts for over 70 % of all HIV/STI cases in the state, with young men who have sex with men (YMSM) between the ages of 13 and 24 encumbering the largest burden in HIV/STI incidence. Using community-based participatory research principles, we developed and pilot tested a web-based, randomized control trial seeking to promote HIV/STI testing (“Get Connected!”) among YMSM (N = 130; ages 15–24). Randomized participants completed a baseline assessment and shown a test-locator condition (control) or a tailored, personalized site (treatment). At 30-day follow-up, we found high acceptability among YMSM in both conditions, yet higher credibility of intervention content among YMSM in the treatment group (d = .55). Furthermore, 30 participants reported testing by following, with the majority of these participants (73.3 %; n = 22) completing the treatment condition, a clinically meaningful effect (d = .34) suggesting preliminary efficacy for the intervention. These results demonstrate the potential of the intervention, and suggest that a larger efficacy trial may be warranted.

Resumen

El Sudeste de Michigan contiene más del 70 % de todos los casos de VIH/ETS en el estado, con JHCH (jóvenes hombres que tienen sexo con hombres) entre las edades de 13 y 24 sufriendo la mayor incidencia de VIH/ETS. Utilizando los principios de investigación participativa y comunitaria, hemos desarrollado y examinado un proyecto piloto, con diseñode ensayo aleatorizado de control basado en promover la prueba de VIH/ETS (“Get Connected!”) entre JHCH (N = 130 entre los 15 y 24 años). Los JHCH completaron un cuestionario inicial y asignados a una condición control (acceso a un localizador de pruebas) o a un grupo de tratamiento (un sitio web personalizado). A los 30 días de seguimiento, encontramos una alta aceptación a ambas condiciones de la intervención; sin embargo, encontramos una mayor credibilidad al contenido entre los JHCH en el grupo de tratamiento (d = .55). Treinta participantes se reportaron haberse hecho una prueba de VIH/ETS durante el seguimiento, con la mayoría de los participantes (73.3 %, n = 22) siendo parte de la condición de tratamiento, un efecto clínicamente significativo (d = .34) que sugiere la eficacia preliminar de la intervención. Estos resultados demuestran el potencial de laintervención, y sugieren un estudio de eficacia con una muestra más grande de JHCH.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by an award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACHHO) and the MAC AIDS Fund to Dr. Bauermeister. Dr. Bauermeister was supported through a NIH Career Development Award (K01-MH087242). We thank our CAB and YAB for their contributions during the development and implementation of the intervention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, SPH I Room 3822, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA

    José A. Bauermeister, Emily S. Pingel, Laura Jadwin-Cakmak & Gary W. Harper

  2. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Keith Horvath

  3. National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), Washington, DC, USA

    Gretchen Weiss

  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Patricia Dittus

Authors
  1. José A. Bauermeister
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  2. Emily S. Pingel
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  3. Laura Jadwin-Cakmak
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  4. Gary W. Harper
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  5. Keith Horvath
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  6. Gretchen Weiss
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  7. Patricia Dittus
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Correspondence to José A. Bauermeister.

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Bauermeister, J.A., Pingel, E.S., Jadwin-Cakmak, L. et al. Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy of a Tailored Online HIV/STI Testing Intervention for Young Men who have Sex with Men: The Get Connected! Program. AIDS Behav 19, 1860–1874 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1009-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1009-y

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