Reducing HIV Vulnerability Through a Multilevel Life Skills Intervention for Adolescent Men (The iREACH Project): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Bauermeister, José A.; Sullivan, Patrick S.; Gravens, Laura; Wolfe, James; Countryman, Kristina; Smith-Bankhead, Neena; Drab, Ryan; Sallabank, Gregory; Helms, Jordan D; Khatibi, Kristie; Filipowicz, Rebecca; Horvath, Keith J.; Bonar, Erin E.; Castel, Amanda D.; Hightow-Weidman, Lisa; Guest, Jodie L; Stephenson, Robert

doi:10.2196/10174

Cited by 21 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Second, we converted the points-based reward system (which was not highly rated by participants) to a system where participants earn virtual badges for completing activities and meeting milestones within the app. We have used a similar badge system within 2 other intervention apps that young MSM have rated with high acceptability [ 105 , 106 ]. Third, we will follow a schedule of releasing new content onto the app each week, including activities, polls, articles, and regular YAB posts.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing HIV Testing and Viral Suppression via Stigma Reduction in a Social Networking Mobile Health Intervention Among Black and Latinx Young Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex With Men (HealthMpowerment): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Muessig¹,

Golinkoff²,

Hightow-Weidman³

et al. 2020

JMIR Res Protoc

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Background Stigma and discrimination related to sexuality, race, ethnicity, and HIV status negatively impact HIV testing, engagement in care, and consistent viral suppression (VS) among young Black and Latinx men who have sex with men and transgender women who have sex with men (YBLMT). Few interventions address the effects of intersectional stigma among youth living with HIV and those at risk for HIV within the same virtual space. Objective Building on the success of the HealthMpowerment (HMP) mobile health (mHealth) intervention (HMP 1.0) and with the input of a youth advisory board, HMP 2.0 is an app-based intervention that promotes user-generated content and social support to reduce intersectional stigma and improve HIV-related outcomes among YBLMT. The primary objective of this study is to test whether participants randomized to HMP 2.0 report improvement in HIV prevention and care continuum outcomes compared with an information-only control arm. We will also explore whether participant engagement, as measured by paradata (data collected as users interact with an mHealth intervention, eg, time spent using the intervention), mediates stigma- and HIV care–related outcomes. Finally, we will assess whether changes in intersectional stigma and improvements in HIV care continuum outcomes vary across different types of social networks formed within the intervention study arms. Methods We will enroll 1050 YBLMT aged 15 to 29 years affected by HIV across the United States. Using an HIV-status stratified, randomized trial design, participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 app-based conditions (information-only app-based control arm, a researcher-created network arm of HMP 2.0, or a peer-referred network arm of HMP 2.0). Behavioral assessments will occur at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. For participants living with HIV, self-collected biomarkers (viral load) are scheduled for baseline, 6, and 12 months. For HIV-negative participants, up to 3 HIV self-testing kits will be available during the study period. Results Research activities began in September 2018 and are ongoing. The University of Pennsylvania is the central institutional review board for this study (protocol #829805) with institutional reliance agreements with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. Study recruitment began on July 20, 2020. A total of 205 participants have been enrolled as of November 20, 2020. Conclusions Among a large sample of US-based YBLMT, this study will assess whether HMP 2.0, an app-based intervention designed to ameliorate stigma and its negative sequelae, can increase routine HIV testing among HIV-negative participants and consistent VS among participants living with HIV. If efficacious and brought to scale, this intervention has the potential to significantly impact the disproportionate burden of HIV among YBLMT in the United States. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03678181; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03678181. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/24043

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing HIV Testing and Viral Suppression via Stigma Reduction in a Social Networking Mobile Health Intervention Among Black and Latinx Young Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex With Men (HealthMpowerment): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Muessig¹,

Golinkoff²,

Hightow-Weidman³

et al. 2020

JMIR Res Protoc

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“…The COVID-19 pandemic provides a context for exploring these options. Further, an app-based SFAS could increase the variety and specificity of substance-free activities for individuals to engage in by pulling web-based resources, as is done in other interventions ( Bauermeister et al, 2018 ). Such an app could provide real-time updates of dates and times (or cancellations/closures as relevant during COVID-19), locations, and registration links, increasing realistic activity selections, and decreasing barriers to engagement.…”

Section: Behavioral Economic Interventions Are Well-suited For Virtuamentioning

confidence: 99%

Considerations for remote delivery of behavioral economic interventions for substance use disorder during COVID-19 and beyond

Coughlin

Bonar

Bickel

2021

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

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The response to the COVID-19 crisis has created direct pressure on health care providers to deliver virtual care, and has created the opportunity to develop innovations in remote treatment for people with substance use disorders. Remote treatments provide an intervention delivery framework that capitalizes on technological innovations in remote monitoring of behaviors and can efficiently use information collected from people and their environment to provide personalized treatments as needed. Interventions informed by behavioral economic theories can help to harness the largely untapped potential of virtual care in substance use treatment. Behavioral economic treatments, such as contingency management, the substance-free activity session, and episodic future thinking, are positioned to leverage remote monitoring of substance use and to use personalized medicine frameworks to deliver remote interventions in the COVID-19 era and beyond.

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“…Details regarding study design are available in a previously published protocol paper (Bauermeister et al, 2018), and the study was IRB‐approved. Briefly, in the current study, we are recruiting 600 AMSM ages 13–18 online as part of a randomized controlled trial to test an online life skills intervention (iREACH) versus an information‐only control (a web‐based national and local resource locator).…”

Section: Initial Training Of Peers In Mi‐based Mentoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, as part of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an HIV prevention intervention (Bauermeister et al, 2018), we recruited and trained young adult peer mentors for delivery of MI‐infused peer mentoring sessions for AMSM via a mobile‐friendly WebApp. The peer mentoring sessions were one part of a larger mHealth intervention that aimed to promote life skills development through providing developmentally tailored content, encouraging goal setting, and creating opportunities for youth to create telehealth appointments to discuss ongoing challenges and opportunities in their lives.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The peer mentoring sessions were one part of a larger mHealth intervention that aimed to promote life skills development through providing developmentally tailored content, encouraging goal setting, and creating opportunities for youth to create telehealth appointments to discuss ongoing challenges and opportunities in their lives. Although the RCT is ongoing (see Bauermeister et al, 2018 for a detailed description of intervention and trial methods), the purpose of the present paper is to detail our training process that combined both MI skills and a focus on peer mentoring for this vulnerable population. Further, although basic MI training was considered a cornerstone, we anticipated that peer mentors would need additional trainings based on unanticipated needs arising throughout the course of supervision and study sessions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Training Young Adult Peers in a Mobile Motivational Interviewing‐Based Mentoring Approach to Upstream HIV Prevention

Bonar

Wolfe

Drab

et al. 2020

American J of Comm Psychol

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Mentoring relationships are characterized by a sustained, high quality, and skill‐building relationship between a protégé and mentor (Handbook of Youth Mentoring, Los Angeles, SAGE, 2014). Within prevention science, youth mentoring programs emphasize creating a specific context that benefits a young person. Program‐sponsored relationships between youth and adults allow for creating a mentor–mentee partnership, but do not require the establishment of a strong bond in order to deliver prevention‐focused activities and experiences (Handbook of Youth Mentoring, Los Angeles, SAGE, 2014). Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a counseling style used widely to promote health behavior change and in prevention interventions. As part of an upstream approach to HIV prevention, we combined mentoring and MI by training peer mentors to use MI skills in their interactions as part of a large RCT of a mobile life skills intervention for adolescent men who have sex with men (AMSM). Our training model developed for training peer mentors in MI skills resulted in peers reaching and exceeding established MI fidelity thresholds (e.g., mean percentage of complex reflections = 80%, mean reflection to question ratio = 2.2:1). We offer reflections on lessons learned and future directions for those researchers and practitioners who may benefit from adapting this blended approach for mentoring AMSM.

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Reducing HIV Vulnerability Through a Multilevel Life Skills Intervention for Adolescent Men (The iREACH Project): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Cited by 21 publications

References 47 publications

Increasing HIV Testing and Viral Suppression via Stigma Reduction in a Social Networking Mobile Health Intervention Among Black and Latinx Young Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex With Men (HealthMpowerment): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Increasing HIV Testing and Viral Suppression via Stigma Reduction in a Social Networking Mobile Health Intervention Among Black and Latinx Young Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex With Men (HealthMpowerment): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Considerations for remote delivery of behavioral economic interventions for substance use disorder during COVID-19 and beyond

Training Young Adult Peers in a Mobile Motivational Interviewing‐Based Mentoring Approach to Upstream HIV Prevention

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