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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Sep;65(3):417-422.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.04.025. Epub 2019 Jul 2.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Process Indicators for Guy2Guy, an mHealth HIV Prevention Program for Sexual Minority Adolescent Boys

Michele L Ybarra  1 , Tonya Prescott  2 , Brian Mustanski  3 , Jeffrey Parsons  4 , Sheana S Bull  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Process Indicators for Guy2Guy, an mHealth HIV Prevention Program for Sexual Minority Adolescent Boys

Michele L Ybarra et al. J Adolesc Health. 2019 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: Guy2Guy is one of the first mHealth HIV prevention programs for sexual minority boys aged 14-18 years, evaluated nationally. Here, we examine the program's feasibility and acceptability and explore participants' feedback about program content and components intended to invigorate program engagement.

Methods: Guy2Guy was tested in a randomized controlled trial of 302 youth assigned to either the intervention or an attention-matched control group. At 3-month follow-up, participants completed a survey that included questions about feasibility and acceptability. Focus groups were conducted with a subset of intervention participants (n = 45) to further understand their program experience.

Results: The protocol and program appeared to be feasible: 94% completed the 3-month follow-up survey. The intervention also appeared to be acceptable: 93% of intervention participants said they somewhat or strongly agreed that they liked the program. Although ∼20% boys agreed that the program sent too many messages, only 10% said they stopped reading the messages by the end. Focus group participants were largely enthusiastic about program content and generally appreciated receiving information and skills-building messages that talked about HIV risk reduction. Some indicated a desire for more content that addressed condom negotiation. Program engagement components, particularly the weekly "level up" quiz, also were generally well received.

Conclusions: Sexual minority boys are willing to engage in Guy2Guy, an intensive, multiweek sexual health intervention via text messaging, and most would recommend the program to their friends.

Keywords: MSM; Process evaluation; Sexual minority; mHealth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest:

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

References

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