JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Epidemiological trends in the US have revealed a rise in HIV incidence among young sexual minority men (YSMM). Leveraging mHealth, which encompasses health services and information delivered or enhanced through the Internet and related technologies, is a crucial strategy to address HIV disparities. Despite the potential of mHealth, its practical implementation remains limited. Moreover, it is important to consider that young individuals may become accustomed, distracted, or disinterested in these applications, underscoring the need for regular updates, and monitoring of relevant content.

Objective:

In this study, we sought to highlight the voices of YSMM 17–24 years old and explored preferred mHealth intervention characteristics and willingness to adopt these technologies among a diverse, nationwide sample of YSMM.

Methods:

Between April and September 2020, we recruited participants online from social media platforms and men-for-men geosocial networking apps. These individuals were invited to engage in online synchronous focus group discussions focusing on topics related to HIV testing and prevention, and their desired features for mHealth technologies.

Results:

A total of 41 YSMM, aged between 17 and 24 years old, participated in nine FGDs spanning April – September 2020, with 3 – 7 participants in each group. The findings shed light on three key insights regarding YSMM's preferences: (1) the need for personalized and representative content, (2) a preference for mobile and virtual simulation of prevention scenarios, and (3) a preference for interactive software with individually tailored content. As expected, preference for mobile health applications was high, which supports the potential and need to develop/adapt interventions that use smartphones as a platform for engaging YSMM in HIV prevention. This study expands on previous research in multiple meaningful ways, delving into the utilization and perceptions of mHealth information amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also highlighted the importance of streamlined access to healthcare providers, especially in light of the barriers faced by young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of presentation and navigation, participants favored a user-friendly design that was easy to use and appropriate for their age, which was effectively addressed through the implementation of virtual simulations.

Conclusions:

Ultimately, the study provides valuable insight into the preferences of YSMM when it comes to mHealth interventions and highlights the need for further research in order to develop effective and tailored HIV prevention tools. A future direction for researchers is to evaluate how best to address participant's desire for personalized content within mHealth applications. Additionally, as technology rapidly evolves, there is a need to re-assess the effectiveness of virtual simulations, particularly those that are used in HIV prevention.