title: Iteratively Developing an mHealth HIV Prevention Program for Sexual Minority Adolescent Men.
abstract: Five activities were implemented between November 2012 and June 2014 to develop an mHealth HIV prevention program for adolescent gay, bisexual, and queer men (AGBM): (1) focus groups to gather acceptability of the program components; (2) ongoing development of content; (3) Content Advisory Teams to confirm the tone, flow, and understandability of program content; (4) an internal team test to alpha test software functionality; and (5) a beta test to test the protocol and intervention messages. Findings suggest that AGBM preferred positive and friendly content that at the same time, did not try to sound like a peer. They deemed the number of daily text messages (i.e., 8-15 per day) to be acceptable. The Text Buddy component was well received but youth needed concrete direction about appropriate discussion topics. AGBM determined the self-safety assessment also was acceptable. Its feasible implementation in the beta test suggests that AGBM can actively self-determine their potential danger when participating in sexual health programs. Partnering with the target population in intervention development is critical to ensure that a salient final product and feasible protocol are created.
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovative Public Health Research, San Clemente, CA, USA. Michele@InnovativePublicHealth.org.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ybarra
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovative Public Health Research, San Clemente, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Tonya L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.affiliation: IMPACT Program, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Philips
authors.affiliation: Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Sheana S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.affiliation: Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: IMPACT Program, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mustanski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016730:Program Development; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012747:Sexual Partners; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D017216:Telemedicine; D060145:Text Messaging
keywords: Adolescents; Gay and bisexual; HIV; Intervention development; Sexual minority; mHealth