The gay cruise: Developing a theory- and evidence-based Internet HIV-prevention intervention

Kok, Gerjo; Harterink, Paul; Vriens, Pjer; Zwart, Onno de; Hospers, Harm J.

doi:10.1525/srsp.2006.3.2.52

Cited by 71 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…23 Existing online interventions include banner advertisements, 22 risk reduction Web sites, 67 chat room-based outreach efforts, 68,69 and interactive Web-based educational and skill-building modules. 70,71 Our results suggest that rather than focusing on the dangers of online sex seeking, Internet-based programs, similar to offline interventions, should encourage young MSM who are at risk to reduce their numbers of sexual partners, decrease the frequency at which they engage in unprotected anal intercourse, avoid alcohol and other substance use in sexual situations, and seek HIV testing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Sexual Risk Taking Among Young Internet-Using Men Who Have Sex With Men

2008

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 RESEARCH AND PRACTICE  Objectives. We examined the characteristics of young Internet-using men who have sex with men (MSM) and risks associated with seeking sex online, offline, or through both strategies.Methods. Data were obtained from MSM aged 18 to 24 years who completed a 45-minute online survey regarding sex and Internet use in the preceding 3 months.Results. Significantly more Internet-using MSM who had met sexual partners both online and offline (43%) reported unprotected anal intercourse than did those who had met sexual partners exclusively online (29%) or offline (34%). MSM who met sexual partners exclusively offline reported the fewest partners but the greatest proportion of partnerships involving unprotected anal intercourse (49%). Meeting sexual partners both online and offline (odds ratio [OR]=3.38-58.42) and being drunk (OR=1.57) or high (OR=2.24) increased the odds of having more sexual partners. The same factors increased the odds of having unprotected anal intercourse (online and offline sexual partners, OR=1.60; being drunk, OR=1.43; being high, OR=1.61).Conclusions. Risky sexual behavior was prevalent among all of the study subgroups. Our findings suggest that online sex seeking is associated with greater numbers of sexual partners but neither promotes nor discourages unprotected anal intercourse. Regardless of where sexual partners met, being drunk and high were significant risks for unprotected anal intercourse.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Sexual Risk Taking Among Young Internet-Using Men Who Have Sex With Men

2008

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“…Digital media interventions have become much more interactive, for example games with feedback, 67 interactive video stories, 68 conversations with virtual characters (avatars) 66 and three-dimensional worlds simulating real-life situations. 69 Another change in the context for the delivery of digital interventions was the advent of internet access via mobile phones, which became popular in the mid to late 2000s, and the explosion in the development of apps for phones from around 2008. This has meant that the internet and mobile phone apps can potentially be accessed when and where they are wanted.…”

Section: Young People Digital Media and Sexual Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual health promotion for young people delivered via digital media: a scoping review

et al. 2015

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BackgroundYoung people are at risk of poor sexual health and are, therefore, in need of comprehensive, effective sexual health education. Young people are confident and constant users of digital technology, such as the internet and mobile phones, and there are many innovative possibilities for sexual health education involving these technologies.ObjectivesTo summarise evidence on effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and mechanism of action of interactive digital interventions (IDIs) for sexual health; optimal practice for intervention development; contexts for successful implementation; research methods for digital intervention evaluation; and the future potential of sexual health promotion via digital media.DesignLiterature review of evidence on digital interventions for sexual health for young people, integrating the findings with the views of young people, parents and experts in digital media/sexual health. IDIs are defined as digital media programmes that provide health information and tailored decision support, behaviour-change support and/or emotional support. We focus on sexual well-being for young people aged 13–24 years in the UK.ResultsThere are many imaginative IDIs for sexual health promotion, but few interventions address issues that are important to young people, such as sexual pleasure and relationships. It is vital to collaborate with young people and to use Behaviour-Change Theory in designing interventions. We located 19 randomised controlled trials of IDIs for sexual health promotion for young people, finding a moderate effect on sexual health knowledge [standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17 to 0.92], a small effect on confidence (self-efficacy) (SMD 0.11, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.20) and a positive effect on sexual behaviour (odds ratio 1.28, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.61), but no significant effects on safer sex intention or biological outcomes. One study suggests that IDIs may be as good as face-to-face interventions for sexual health knowledge and safer sex intention. There are no existing data on the cost-effectiveness of IDIs for sexual health promotion. The impact of an IDI will be determined by the proportion of the target population reached, intervention efficacy, adoption in a setting, how well it is delivered and maintenance/sustainability. All of these elements must be addressed for IDIs to be successful. More collaboration is needed to capitalise on the knowledge of users and stakeholders, the design and software skills of the commercial sector and the theoretical expertise and evaluation skills of academia.ConclusionsIDIs are effective for knowledge acquisition and sexual behaviour, and could usefully contribute to sexual health education in schools, in clinic settings and online; however, there are obstacles to overcome, such as access to information technology and ensuring the quality and safety of interventions.Future workMore evidence is needed on the best designs for interventions (e.g. choice of behaviour-change mechanisms and interactive features) and the best models of delivery (e.g. setting, modes of delivery, methods of facilitation and support for engagement) to improve sexual behaviour, biological outcomes and sexual well-being in a cost-effective way.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research programme.

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“…Online HIV risk reduction interventions have only recently begun to be developed and tested (Bowen, Horvath & Williams, 2007;Davidovich, de Wit & Stroebe, 2006;Kok, Harterink, Vriens, de Zwart, & Hospers, 2006). HIV prevention needs assessments of the target population are essential to inform such interventions, including the issue of sexual explicitness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Online Needs Assessment of a Virtual Community: What Men Who Use the Internet to Seek Sex with Men Want in Internet-Based HIV Prevention

et al. 2008

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As part of a study to develop effective Internet-based HIV prevention interventions for Men who use the Internet to seek Sex with Men (MISM), we sought information from the target population on (a) acceptability of sexually explicit media; (b) interest in specific content areas; and (c) identification of credible sources of information. A cross-sectional stratified Internet-based survey design was employed. Between September and November 2005, we recruited 2,716 MISM through Gay.com stratified across race/ethnicity to ensure adequate racial/ethnic diversity. Sixteen Likert-type items assessed acceptability of sexual explicitness, 24 items identified topics for inclusion, and two assessed sources of information. There was near universal acceptability for highly sexually explicit education. Over 75 percent reported high interest in ten sexual health topics. HIV positive MISM and MISM engaged in unprotected anal sex with multiple male partners reported significantly less interest in HIV prevention specific content. Differences across age, race/ethnicity and education were identified. Idiosyncratic searches and gay sites were frequently cited sources of information; however blogs, government, and media sites were not. It is acceptable for web-based HIV prevention for MISM to be highly sexually explicit and to provide detailed content relevant to men's sexual health. Since demographic differences in acceptability and content were minor, it is appropriate for interventions to target across demographics. Interventions to re-engage men engaging in high risk and HIV+ MISM should be considered. Leading health agencies should review whether their web information is retrievable, credible and useful to those most at risk.

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The gay cruise: Developing a theory- and evidence-based Internet HIV-prevention intervention

Cited by 71 publications

References 15 publications

Sexual Risk Taking Among Young Internet-Using Men Who Have Sex With Men

Sexual Risk Taking Among Young Internet-Using Men Who Have Sex With Men

Sexual health promotion for young people delivered via digital media: a scoping review

An Online Needs Assessment of a Virtual Community: What Men Who Use the Internet to Seek Sex with Men Want in Internet-Based HIV Prevention

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