title: From (Un)Willingness to InvolveMENt: Development of a Successful Study Brand for Recruitment of Diverse MSM to a Longitudinal HIV Research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV continues to be a major concern among MSM, yet Black MSM have not been enrolled in HIV research studies in proportionate numbers to White MSM. We developed an HIV prevention research brand strategy for MSM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires and focus groups were conducted with 54 participants. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were performed and qualitative data were transcribed and content analyzed to identify common themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Formative research results indicated that younger Black MSM (18-29 years) were less likely to think about joining prevention studies compared to older (≥30 years) Black MSM (x2= 5.92,P= 0.015). Qualitative and quantitative results indicate four prominent themes related to brand development: (1) communication sources (message deliverer), (2) message (impact of public health messaging on perceptions of HIV research), (3) intended audience (underlying issues that influence personal relevance of HIV research), and (4) communication channels (reaching intended audiences).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings highlight the importance of behavioral communication translational research to effectively engage hard-to-reach populations. Despite reservations, MSM in our formative study expressed a need for active involvement and greater education to facilitate their engagement in HIV prevention research. Thus, the brand concept of "InvolveMENt" emerged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA ; Emory Center for AIDS Research, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA ; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA ; The Hope Clinic of the Emory Vaccine Center, Decatur, GA 30030, USA.
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Frew
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Eve T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: Emory Center for AIDS Research, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA ; Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Emory Center for AIDS Research, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA ; Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Eli S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Fenimore
authors.affiliation: Emory Center for AIDS Research, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA ; Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sullivan