1. Perceptions of Molecular HIV Surveillance Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States.
- Author
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Valenzuela Lara M, Sanchez TH, Bollinger JM, Geller G, Little SJ, and Sugarman J
- Abstract
Expanding HIV cluster detection using molecular HIV surveillance (MHS) raises ethical and social concerns, which may impede HIV outbreak detection and response as well as deter people living with HIV from seeking care. This underscores the need for effective communication strategies. We examined two methods for explaining MHS among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV and at-risk without HIV in the United States. Participants recruited during the 2021 American Men's Internet Survey (AMIS) were randomized to view a brief video (N = 822) or text (N = 1701) explaining MHS. Respondents with high video engagement were less likely to be concerned about MHS. In the text group, discomfort with MHS decreased as awareness of different public health activities increased. Overall, information about MHS and increased awareness of it improved its acceptability. Effective communication is an essential prerequisite for meaningfully engaging stakeholders regarding MHS implementation in HIV prevention and control efforts., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: Jeremy Sugarman is a consultant to Merck KGaA, IQVIA, and Merck; he is also a member of Aspen Neurosciences’ Clinical Advisory Panel. None of these activities is related to the material discussed in this manuscript. Susan J. Little received grant support paid to her institution from Gilead Sciences. All other authors reported no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article. Ethical Approval: The Emory University Human Subjects Research Review Board (IRB #47676) reviewed and approved the study. Consent to Participate: Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2024
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