Comparing Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women who Use Grindr, Other Similar Social and Sexual Networking Apps, or no Social and Sexual Networking Apps: Implications for Recruitment and Health Promotion

Sun, Christina J.; Sutfin, Erin L.; Bachmann, Laura H.; Stowers, Jason; Rhodes, Scott D.

doi:10.4172/2155-6113.1000757

Cited by 22 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, we observed the highest account creation rate among individuals exposed to our Web-based news advertisement, although a much lower proportion proceeded to test. These differences in outcomes might be explained by several factors, including the characteristics of GBMSM on these different websites and apps, such as differences in response to the JMS campaign (influencing click-through rates); demographic factors (eg, age and ethnicity); and behavioral risk or testing barriers (influencing account creation and testing rates)—all aspects worthy of further study [12,13]. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that the promotion in physical venues is important and cost-effective, as location ads had the lowest cost per account of all venues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Impact of a Social Marketing Campaign on Program Outcomes for Users of an Internet-Based Testing Service for Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections: Observational Study

Gilbert¹,

Salway²,

Haag³

et al. 2019

J Med Internet Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundWhile social marketing (SM) campaigns can be effective in increasing testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), they are seldom rigorously evaluated and often rely on process measures (eg, Web-based ad click-throughs). With Web-based campaigns for internet-based health services, there is a potential to connect campaign process measures to program outcomes, permitting the assessment of venue-specific yield based on health outcomes (eg, click-throughs per test).ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the impact of an SM campaign by the promotional venue on use and diagnostic test results of the internet-based STBBI testing service GetCheckedOnline.com (GCO).MethodsThrough GCO, clients create an account using an access code, complete a risk assessment, print a lab form, submit specimens at a lab, and get results online or by phone. From April to August 2015, a campaign promoted GCO to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada. The campaign highlighted GCO’s convenience in 3 types of promotional venues—location advertisements in print or video displayed in gay venues or events, ads on a queer news website, and ads on geosocial websites and apps. Where feasible, individuals were tracked from campaign exposures to account creation and testing using venue-specific GCO access codes. In addition, Web-based ads were linked to alternate versions of the campaign website, which used URLs with embedded access codes to connect ad exposure to account creation. Furthermore, we examined the number of individuals creating GCO accounts, number tested, and cost per account created and test for each venue type.ResultsOver 6 months, 177 people created a GCO account because of the campaign, where 22.0% (39/177) of these completed testing; the overall cost was Can $118 per account created and Can $533 per test. Ads on geosocial websites and apps accounted for 46.9% (83/177) of all accounts; ads on the news website had the lowest testing rate and highest cost per test. We observed variation between different geosocial websites and apps with some ads having high click-through rates yet low GCO account creation rates, and vice versa.ConclusionsDeveloping mechanisms to track individuals from Web-based exposure to SM campaigns to outcomes of internet-based health services permits greater evaluation of the yield and cost-effectiveness of different promotional efforts. Web-based ads with high click-through rates may not have a high conversion to service use, the ultimate outcome of SM campaigns.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Impact of a Social Marketing Campaign on Program Outcomes for Users of an Internet-Based Testing Service for Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections: Observational Study

Gilbert¹,

Salway²,

Haag³

et al. 2019

J Med Internet Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The other log-in locations changed according to the designated testing locations of the participants in Taipei and New Taipei City. Two strategies of client mobilization and recruitment were applied to the GSN apps [ 20 , 29 , 30 ]: (1) reloading once every 2 hours, a total of 4 times per day, from 10 AM to noon and 1:30 PM to 7:30 PM, on weekdays, onto each app to display our heading and profile, and allow nearby web-based users who were interested in mobile HIV testing to actively tap or send a private message to the research assistant, and (2) the research assistant provided one-on-one web-based discussions by using standard contents, including the research purpose, the privacy and rights of the participants, risk-taking behavior, and the window period of HIV infection. Individual mobile HIV testing appointments were decided after discussion.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…High risk-taking behaviors for HIV infection, such as having multiple sexual partners, low frequency of condom use, and a high percentage of recreational drug use, have increased by using social networking platforms [ 15 - 18 ]. Therefore, the use of social networking platforms may also help gather mobile HIV testing information and encourage VCT among high risk-taking MSM [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile HIV Testing Through Social Networking Platforms: Comparative Study

Chiou¹,

Ko²,

Chien³

2021

J Med Internet Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Improving HIV screening in key populations is a crucial strategy to achieve the goal of eliminating AIDS in 2030. Social networking platforms can be used to recruit high risk-taking men who have sex with men (MSM) to promote the delivery of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) as mobile HIV testing. Therefore, client recruitment and availability of mobile HIV testing through social networking platforms requires further evaluation. Objective The aim of this study is to compare the effects of targeting high risk-taking MSM and HIV case finding between two mobile HIV testing recruitment approaches: through the traditional website-based approach and through social networking platforms. Methods A comparative study design and propensity score matching was applied. The traditional VCT model, that is, the control group, recruited MSM through a website, and a trained research assistant visited the walk-in testing station at a gay village on Friday and Saturday nights. The social networking VCT model, the experimental group, recruited MSM from social networking platforms by periodically reloading into and conducting web-based discussions on dating apps and Facebook. The participants then referred to others in their social networks via a popular messenger app in Taiwan. The test was conducted at a designated time and place during weekdays by a trained research assistant. Across both modes of contact, before the mobile HIV testing, participants needed to provide demographic characteristics and respond to a questionnaire about HIV risk-taking behaviors. Results We recruited 831 MSM over 6 months, with a completion rate of 8.56% (616/7200) in the traditional VCT model and 20.71% (215/1038) in the social networking VCT model. After propensity score matching, there were 215 MSM in each group (mean age 29.97, SD 7.61 years). The social networking model was more likely to reach MSM with HIV risk-taking behaviors, that is, those seeking sexual activity through social media, having multiple sexual partners and unprotected anal intercourse, having experience of recreational drug use, and never having or not regularly having an HIV test, compared with the traditional model. HIV positive rates (incidence rate ratio 3.40, 95% CI 1.089-10.584; P=.03) and clinic referral rates (incidence rate ratio 0.03, 95% CI 0.001-0.585; P=.006) were significantly higher among those in the social networking VCT model than in the traditional VCT model. Conclusions Through effective recruitment strategies on social networking platforms, the social networking VCT mode can be smoothly promoted, as compared with the traditional VCT model, to target high risk-taking MSM and increase testing outcomes.

show abstract

“…During the past decade, researchers have utilized GSN apps in a variety of ways to recruit sexual and gender minority participants for HIV research. Many studies have relied on passive methods, such as advertising banners and popup ads or posting a study-specific profile with contact information [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engaging Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in HIV Interventions Through Gay Dating Apps: Recruitment Protocol

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background HIV continues to disproportionately impact sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) in the United States. Public health efforts have increasingly focused on developing efficacious interventions to curb the spread of HIV among SGMY and help those living with HIV achieve and sustain viral suppression. However, recruiting and engaging SGMY in prevention and care interventions is challenging. Objective During the past decade, gay dating apps have quickly emerged as popular web-based spaces in which SGMY congregate. Although the recruitment of SGMY through these apps has been commonly reported, advertisement is the typical modality used, and direct recruitment approaches are not adequately described. This study aims to describe the process for developing a direct recruitment protocol for use in gay dating apps. Methods The Adolescent Medicine Trials Network Comprehensive Adolescent Research and Engagement Studies is a community-based research program consisting of 3 interrelated studies testing scalable behavioral interventions to improve HIV prevention and care engagement among youth aged 12-24 years in Los Angeles and New Orleans. To supplement our in-person recruitment approaches for Comprehensive Adolescent Research and Engagement Studies, the New Orleans site formed a gay dating app recruitment team. In April 2018, the team developed a loosely structured protocol that included study-specific profiles and sample language to guide initial recruitment efforts. Two self-identified Black, gay cisgender male field recruiters field-tested the protocol on the popular gay dating app Jack’d. During the field test, the recruitment team met weekly to discuss the recruiters’ experiences and user reactions. For example, we learned the importance of addressing concerns about study legitimacy and identifying appropriate ways to describe the study. We iteratively incorporated these lessons learned into the final protocol and developed a training program and tracking procedures before moving to full-scale implementation at both sites. Results Adhering to this protocol yielded 162 enrollments in New Orleans (332 total enrollments across the two sites) throughout the recruitment period (April 2018 to August 2019). Most of these participants were sexual minority cisgender males (91%), and the remainder were identified as members of gender minority groups. We outlined step-by-step instructions on training staff, engaging users, and scheduling and tracking recruitment activities. Conclusions This paper provides a practical guide for researchers and community-based providers to implement a gay dating app recruitment protocol. Our experience indicates that gay dating app recruitment is feasible and fruitful when the staff members are knowledgeable, flexible, honest, and respectful to the user. Perhaps the most salient lesson we learned in approaching gay dating app users is the importance of setting clear and transparent intentions without judgment. As gay dating apps continue to increase in popularity, researchers need to stay vigilant to changing formats and develop systematic approaches to harness their potential as invaluable recruitment strategies for SGMY. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR1-10.2196/28864

show abstract

Comparing Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women who Use Grindr, Other Similar Social and Sexual Networking Apps, or no Social and Sexual Networking Apps: Implications for Recruitment and Health Promotion

Cited by 22 publications

References 31 publications

Assessing the Impact of a Social Marketing Campaign on Program Outcomes for Users of an Internet-Based Testing Service for Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections: Observational Study

Assessing the Impact of a Social Marketing Campaign on Program Outcomes for Users of an Internet-Based Testing Service for Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections: Observational Study

Mobile HIV Testing Through Social Networking Platforms: Comparative Study

Engaging Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in HIV Interventions Through Gay Dating Apps: Recruitment Protocol

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About