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Building a Mobile HIV Prevention App for Men Who Have Sex With Men: An Iterative and Community-Driven Process
- Source :
- JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- JMIR Publications Inc., 2015.
-
Abstract
- Background: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) account for a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections in the United States. Mobile technology presents an opportunity for innovative interventions for HIV prevention. Some HIV prevention apps currently exist; however, it is challenging to encourage users to download these apps and use them regularly. An iterative research process that centers on the community’s needs and preferences may increase the uptake, adherence, and ultimate effectiveness of mobile apps for HIV prevention. Objective: The aim of this paper is to provide a case study to illustrate how an iterative community approach to a mobile HIV prevention app can lead to changes in app content to appropriately address the needs and the desires of the target community. Methods: In this three-phase study, we conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with MSM and HIV testing counselors in Atlanta, Seattle, and US rural regions to learn preferences for building a mobile HIV prevention app. We used data from these groups to build a beta version of the app and theater tested it in additional FGDs. A thematic data analysis examined how this approach addressed preferences and concerns expressed by the participants. Results: There was an increased willingness to use the app during theater testing than during the first phase of FGDs. Many concerns that were identified in phase one (eg, disagreements about reminders for HIV testing, concerns about app privacy) were considered in building the beta version. Participants perceived these features as strengths during theater testing. However, some disagreements were still present, especially regarding the tone and language of the app. Conclusions: These findings highlight the benefits of using an interactive and community-driven process to collect data on app preferences when building a mobile HIV prevention app. Through this process, we learned how to be inclusive of the larger MSM population without marginalizing some app users. Though some issues in phase one were able to be addressed, disagreements still occurred in theater testing. If the app is going to address a large and diverse risk group, we cannot include niche functionality that may offend some of the target population. [JMIR Public Health Surveill 2015;1(2):e18]
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
020205 medical informatics
Download
Population
Internet privacy
Psychological intervention
Health Informatics
02 engineering and technology
Men who have sex with men
World Wide Web
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
prevention
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
mobile app
mental disorders
0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
medicine
Mobile technology
MSM
030212 general & internal medicine
education
Original Paper
education.field_of_study
business.industry
Public health
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
HIV
medicine.disease
Focus group
3. Good health
AIDS
community
Psychology
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 23692960
- Volume :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....260fb72a98c85f4bd6d80cac7dbe9163