Ignacio Matt, Garofalo Robert, Pearson Cynthia, Kuhns Lisa M, Bruce Josh, Scott Batey D, Radix Asa, Belkind Uri, Hidalgo Marco A, Hirshfield Sabina, Schnall Rebecca
School of Social Work, Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Division of Adolescent Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
JAMIA Open. 2019 Jul;2(2):272-279. doi: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooz008. Epub 2019 Apr 13.
Our study team adapted the MyPEEPS (Male Youth Pursuing Empowerment, Education, and Prevention around Sexuality) curriculum, an evidence-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention intervention, from a face-to-face, group-based intervention to an individual-level mobile responsive web-based intervention to improve HIV risk behaviors in very young men, aged 13-18 years.
In adapting the MyPEEPS intervention to mobile app, we used a series of methodologies, including expert panel reviews, weekly team meetings with the software development company, and conducted in-depth interviews with very young men. Following the iterative process, we conducted a 6-week pre-post feasibility pilot trial with 40 young men in Birmingham, AL; Chicago, IL; New York City, NY; and Seattle, WA. Primary outcomes of interest were uptake of the app, accessibility and satisfaction.
Across all 4 sites, 62.5% (25/40) of participants completed all modules in the app in an average of 28.85 (SD 21.69) days. Participants who did not attend to the follow-up visit did not complete any of the app modules. Overall participants reported that the app was easy to use, useful and has the potential to improve their sexual health knowledge and behavior and awareness in risky contexts. Participants also highly rated the app, information and interface quality of the app.
Lessons learned from the pilot included the need for reminder systems and providing anticipatory guidance about Internet connectivity when using the app. These changes will be incorporated into study procedures for our multisite trial.
Overall, participants found the app to be highly usable and have the potential to positively improve their sexual risk behavior.
我们的研究团队将“我的伙伴”（MyPEEPS，围绕性取向开展赋权、教育及预防的男性青年项目）课程进行了调整。该课程是一种循证的人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）预防干预措施，从基于小组的面对面干预转变为基于移动设备的响应式网络个人层面干预，以改善13至18岁年轻男性的HIV风险行为。
在将MyPEEPS干预措施改编为移动应用程序时，我们采用了一系列方法，包括专家小组评审、与软件开发公司的每周团队会议，以及对年轻男性进行深入访谈。经过迭代过程，我们在阿拉巴马州伯明翰、伊利诺伊州芝加哥、纽约市和华盛顿州西雅图对40名年轻男性进行了为期6周的前后可行性试点试验。主要关注的结果是应用程序的使用率、可及性和满意度。
在所有4个地点，62.5%（25/40）的参与者平均在28.85（标准差21.69）天内完成了应用程序中的所有模块。未参加后续随访的参与者未完成应用程序的任何模块。总体而言，参与者报告称该应用程序易于使用、有用，并且有可能提高他们在性健康方面的知识、行为以及在危险情境中的意识。参与者对该应用程序、信息和界面质量也给予了高度评价。
试点中吸取的经验教训包括需要提醒系统，以及在使用应用程序时提供有关互联网连接的预期指导。这些变化将纳入我们多地点试验的研究程序中。
总体而言，参与者发现该应用程序非常实用，并且有可能积极改善他们的性风险行为。
