title: Developing a Web-Based HIV Behavioral Surveillance Pilot Project Among Men Who Have Sex with Men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A web-based HIV behavioral surveillance system (WHBS) has potential to collect behavioral data from men who have sex with men (MSM) not reached through traditional sampling methods. Six U.S. cities conducted a WHBS pilot in 2005-2007 to determine the feasibility to conduct a behavioral surveillance project entirely on the internet.
  
  
  METHODS
  THREE SAMPLING METHODS OF ADULT MSM ON THE INTERNET WERE EXPLORED: direct marketing (DM) using banner advertisements; respondent-driven sampling (RDS) using peer recruitment; and venue-based sampling (VBS) using internet venues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 8,434 complete MSM surveys were obtained: 8,109 through DM, 130 through RDS, and 195 through VBS. By methods, enrollment rates ranged from 70-90%; completion rates ranged from 67-95%. DM obtained the largest proportions of racial/ethnic minority MSM (36%) and MSM 18-20 years (19%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only the DM method achieved a substantial number of complete MSM surveys. Successful implementation of an internet-based systematic sampling method may be problematic, but a convenience sample of MSM using banner advertisements is feasible and may produce useful and timely behavioral information from a large number of MSM.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Denson
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dinenno
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lansky
keywords: HIV; MSM; gay; internet; sexual behavior.