Young Women's Experience with Using Videoconferencing for the Assessment of Sexual Behavior and Microbicide Use

Abstract

Background: Videoconferencing (VC) systems are increasingly recognized as a viable means of enhancing communication across different geographic regions and have been used within multiple settings. Until now, despite increased use and diverse applications, VC has received relatively little attention as a data collection tool in qualitative research. The literature on preferred data collection methods for sensitive topics offers different perspectives, with no clear consensus on the best approach for collecting sensitive data. We sought to determine if VC is a feasible tool for eliciting sexual history from participants in a vaginal microbicide study. Subjects and Methods: Fifty-nine young women who participated in a Phase 1 microbicide safety and acceptability study at three sites (Tampa, FL; Pittsburgh, PA; and San Juan, Puerto Rico) were interviewed through VC from New York City. During the third VC session, participants gave feedback on their experience using the method. Results: Most of the participants reported that they preferred VC to phone-only interviews. Participants noted that because of the sensitive nature of the interviews, geographical distance from the interviewer facilitated disclosure. Despite some technical problems, such as the time delay in video transmission and occasional loss of connection, participants expressed a high degree of satisfaction with using VC. Conclusions: VC seems to be a feasible alternative form of conducting in-depth interviews on sensitive topics. VC enables data collection from geographically dispersed research participants without the cost and time burden of traveling to sites or developing local interviewer capabilities when the number of interviews is small.

Acceptability of Three Novel HIV Prevention Methods Among Young Male and Transgender Female Sex Workers in Puerto Rico

“…In addition, at the follow-up visit participants completed an in-depth interview via video teleconference (28) in which they discussed gel use (what it was like to use the gel, where it was applied, privacy in using the gel); problems with the gel; gel use during RAI with clients; and likelihood of using rectal microbicide gel, rapid HIV self test, and oral PrEP in the future.…”

Soluble Immune Mediators and Vaginal Bacteria Impact Innate Genital Mucosal Antimicrobial Activity in Young Women

“…Other relevant behavioral variables, such as frequency of anal intercourse and douching, were not included in this analysis, nor did we adjust for study site. 39–42 Moreover, we quantified only a narrow panel of soluble immune mediators and thus did not assess the relative contributions to E. coli inhibitory activity from other key antimicrobial peptides such as α- and β-defensins, which may also impact innate antimicrobial activity in genital secretions 6,43 and HIV seroconversion risk. 5 Prior studies investigating reduced activity against E. coli in the setting of BV have associated this reduction with a loss of human neutrophil peptides (α-defensins) and β-defensins.…”

High levels of adherence to a rectal microbicide gel and to oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) achieved in MTN-017 among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women

“…To assess product use in this study, we decided to build on Pool et al’s (2010) mixed methods and triangulation approach while enriching it based on our own experience in prior studies of the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN-004, 006, 007, 012) and one independent study (Project Gel, R01 HD059533, Carballo-Diéguez and McGowan, PIs). In these previous studies, we used a variety of assessment methods that included an interactive voice response telephone reporting system [ 11 ], computer assisted self-interviews (CASI) [ 12 ], remote phone and video IDIs [ 13 ], and count of returned used and unused applicators [ 12 ]. In addition, in MTN-017 we used telephone short message system (SMS) for adherence reporting as well as also used detectable TFV concentration (cutoff of 0.31 ng/mL) as a qualitative adherence measure provided to the clinical study team within two weeks from sample collection.…”