Bijou: Engaging Young MSM in HIV Care Using a Mobile Health Strategy. (8th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chenneville, Tiffany; Drake, Hunter; Gabbidon, Kemesha; Rodriguez, Carina; Hightow-Weidman, Lisa
• Is Part Of: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. Volume 20(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07-08
• Subjects: HIV -- MSM -- mobile health -- eHealth -- youth; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; 616.9792
• DOI: 10.1177/23259582211030805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-9574

Abstract

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) living with HIV experience challenges with retention in care, which negatively affects viral suppression. To address this, researchers piloted Bijou, a program designed to provide health education through electronically delivered behavior and risk reduction modules. Participants were 29 YMSM aged 19-24 living with HIV from the southeastern US. Participants completed pre, post, and 3-month follow-up (3MFU) surveys assessing knowledge, intervention acceptability, satisfaction, self-efficacy, ehealth literacy, and usability. Findings revealed significant improvement in knowledge and e-health literacy from pre-test to post-test but lost significance at 3MFU. Self-efficacy scores did not show significant differences from pre-test to post-test or 3MFU. Participants who completed all modules considered Bijou usable and acceptable; however, many did not complete the program. Findings suggest a need for adaptations to promote knowledge retention, e-health literacy, engagement over time, and research with a larger, more representative sample.