title: weCARE: A Social Media-Based Intervention Designed to Increase HIV Care Linkage, Retention, and Health Outcomes for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Young MSM.
abstract: Estimates suggest that only about 30% of all individuals living with HIV in the U.S. have achieved viral suppression. Men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly racial/ethnic minority young MSM, are at increased risk for HIV infection and may have even lower viral suppression rates. HIV testing rates among MSM are low, and when tested, racial/ethnic minority young MSM have disproportionately lower rates of retention in care and viral suppression compared to other subgroups. This article describes the design and development of weCare, our social media-based intervention to improve care linkage and retention and health outcomes among racially and ethnically diverse MSM, ages 13-34, living with HIV that will be implemented and evaluated beginning in late 2016. The intervention harnesses established social media that MSM between these ages commonly use, including Facebook, text messaging, and established GPS-based mobile applications (apps). We are using community-based participatory research (CBPR) to enhance the quality and validity of weCare, equitably involving community members, organization representatives, healthcare providers, clinic staff, and academic researchers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro.
authors.forename: Amanda E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Lilli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy and Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Eunyoung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonzo
authors.affiliation: Section on Infectious Diseases, Wake Forest University Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Elías
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arellano
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Jesus M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006296:Health Services; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D016730:Program Development; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult