JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men (SMM) have expressed acceptability of patient portals as tools for supporting HIV prevention behaviors, including facilitating disclosure of HIV and other sexually transmitted infection (STI/HIV) laboratory test results. However, these studies, in which Black/African-American SMM were under-sampled, failed to determine the relationship of past discussion of HIV results with sex partners to anticipated willingness to disclose online STI/HIV test results using a patient portal.

Objective:

The objectives of the current study were to (a) determine preferences for patient portal use for HIV prevention and (b) test the associations between reported history of discussing HIV results and anticipated willingness to disclose online STI/HIV test results with most recent main and non-main partners using patient portals.

Methods:

Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted on ACASI survey data among a predominantly Black/African-American sample of SMM.

Results:

Of the 245 SMM included in the sample, 71% were African-American/Black and 22% were White. Tools to help manage HIV (75%), information about pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (both 71%), were the top-valuated features to include in patient portals for HIV prevention. Discussing HIV test results was significantly associated with an increased odds of being willing to disclose online test results with both main (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6.35; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.95, 13.7) and non-main partners (AOR 3.45; 95% CI 1.59, 6.40).

Conclusions:

This study provides guidance on how patient portals may be utilized as tools for STI/HIV prevention for SMM. Future studies should consider past HIV test results discussion behavior with partners when tailoring interventions that leverage patient portals in disclosure events. Clinical Trial: N/A