This study will develop and test an interactive mobile messaging intervention to improve engagement in care related to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and decrease HIV risk behaviors for Black men who have sex with men living in the Southern U.S. The mobile messaging intervention will include interactive text messaging and free, publicly available links to websites and YouTube videos. During the intervention participants will gain information about their health, improve motivation for engagement in PrEP related care, and build skills for healthy behaviors. Participants will also receive intervention materials to help decrease frequent barriers to care. If the intervention is found to be effective, it can be tested in a larger study and then disseminated.
The uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been slow for young Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) living in the Southern United States. This is a significant issue because eight of the ten states with the highest rates of new HIV infections are located in the South. Jackson, Mississippi (MS) (the site of this project) has the second highest AIDS diagnosis rate in the nation, and the highest rate of HIV infection for young urban Black men who have sex with men. This study will develop and test an engaging, interactive, and cost effective mobile messaging intervention to improve linkage to PrEP care for BMSM (18-35 yrs) living in Jackson, MS. BMSM eligible for PrEP, receiving care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center sexually-transmitted infections (STI)/HIV testing clinics, will be texted interactive links to publicly available, online content about PrEP and HIV prevention. Links will be sent to PrEP eligible BMSM by 8-16 interactive text messages over 4 weeks. The material used in the intervention will be consistent with the Information Motivation Behavior (IMB) Model and will address cultural and structural barriers to initiating PrEP care. A small randomized controlled study among 66 new participants in the clinics will examine the preliminary efficacy of the intervention compared to enhanced standard of care on attendance at a PrEP Services Appointment (the first step in initiating PrEP care). It is hypothesized that, compared to BMSM receiving enhanced standard of care, BMSM receiving the PrEP Mobile Messaging Intervention will show greater attendance at a PrEP Services Appointment and decreased HIV risk behavior at 4 and 16 weeks.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
70
See group description
See group description
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Number of PrEP Services Appointments Attended-Full Sample
With participant consent, staff at the STI/HIV testing clinic will abstract from the electronic medical record any PrEP Services Appointment, and any PrEP related care.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Number of PrEP Services Appointments Attended- Restricted Sample
With participant consent, staff at the STI/HIV testing clinic will abstract from the electronic medical record any PrEP Services Appointment, and any PrEP related care. Restricted Sample is only those who did not receive a PrEP prescription the same day as enrollment.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Number of Participants Who Received a PrEP Prescription-Full Sample
Staff at the testing clinic will abstract any prescription written for PrEP at 16 weeks for the participant.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Number of Participants Who Received a PrEP Prescription-Restricted Sample
Staff at the testing clinic will abstract any prescription written for PrEP at 16 weeks for the participant. Restricted sample is those who did not receive a PrEP prescription the same day as enrollment.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Change in PrEP Knowledge-Full Sample
Change in participants score on the PrEP Knowledge Questionnaire between baseline and 16 weeks follow-up. Scores can range from 0-3, with higher scores indicating greater PrEP knowledge.
Time frame: Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in PrEP Knowledge-Restricted Sample
Change in participants score on the PrEP Knowledge Questionnaire between baseline and 16 weeks follow-up. Scores can range from 0-3, with higher scores indicating greater PrEP knowledge. Restricted sample is those who did not receive a PrEP prescription the same day as enrollment.
Time frame: Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in Social Motivational Readiness for PrEP Care-Full Sample
Change in participants' score on the IMB PrEP Motivation Scale (to assess personal and social motivations for PrEP use) from baseline to16 weeks follow-up. Scores can range from 8 - 32, with higher scores indicating greater motivation.
Time frame: Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in Social Motivational Readiness for PrEP Care-Restricted Sample
Change in participants' score on the IMB PrEP Motivation Scale (to assess personal and social motivations for PrEP use) from baseline to16 weeks follow-up. Scores can range from 8 - 32, with higher scores indicating greater motivation. Restricted sample is those who did not receive a PrEP prescription the same day as enrollment.
Time frame: Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in PrEP Self-efficacy-Full Sample
Change in participants' score on the IMB PrEP Behavioral Skills Scale between baseline and 16 weeks, which assesses self-efficacy for taking PrEP as prescribed and assesses self-efficacy for PrEP related medical appointments. Scores can range from 7 - 28, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy.
Time frame: Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in PrEP Self-efficacy-Restricted Sample
Change in participants' score on the IMB PrEP Behavioral Skills Scale between baseline and 16 weeks, which assesses self-efficacy for taking PrEP as prescribed and assesses self-efficacy for PrEP related medical appointments. Scores can range from 7 - 28, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy. Restricted sample is those who did not receive a PrEP prescription the same day as enrollment.
Time frame: Baseline, 16 weeks
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