Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internet Application to Reduce HIV Transmission Behavior Among HIV Infected Men Who have Sex with Men.
We conducted a prospective, randomized controlled trial of an internet-based safer-sex intervention to reduce HIV transmission risk behaviors. HIV-infected men who have sex with men (n = 179) were randomized to receive a monthly internet survey alone or a monthly survey plus tailored risk reduction messages over 12 months. The primary outcome was the cumulative sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence over 12 months. Secondary outcomes included self-reported unprotected sex with an at risk partner and disclosure of HIV status to partners. In a modified intent to treat analysis, there was no difference in 12-month STI incidence between the intervention and control arms (30 vs. 25 %, respectively; p = 0.5). Unprotected sex decreased and disclosure increased over time in both study arms. These improvements suggest that addition of the risk-reduction messages provided little benefit beyond the self-monitoring of risky behavior via regular self-report risk behavior assessments (as was done in both study arms).
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 Soto Building, MC9239, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA.
Joel
J
Milam
University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Sheldon
S
Morris
University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Sonia
S
Jain
University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Xiaoying
X
Sun
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 Soto Building, MC9239, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA.
Michael P
MP
Dubé
Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, USA.
Eric S
ES
Daar
University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Gustavo
G
Jimenez
University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Richard
R
Haubrich
D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
HIV; Internet; Intervention; Men who have sex with men; Randomized controlled trial; Risk behaviors; Sexually transmitted infection