Development and Testing of a Mobile Application to Enhance HIV Prevention Cascade in Malaysian MSM

开发和测试移动应用程序以加强马来西亚男男性接触者的艾滋病毒预防级联

• 批准号: 10367278
• 负责人: Roman Shrestha
• 金额: $ 20.31万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10367278
• 关键词: Development; Testing; Mobile; Application; Enhance

Abstract Malaysia’s HIV epidemic is rapidly expanding with recent evidence suggesting accelerated sexual transmission, especially in MSM: 10% in 2008 to 54% in 2016. Evidence suggests high HIV prevalence in MSM being nationally (21.6%) and in Kuala Lumpur (43%). Central to this expanding HIV epidemic in MSM is condomless sex, STIs, and co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders (P/SUD), especially depression and amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use. Insights into Malaysia’s HIV prevention gap are multi-factorial. Both homosexuality and substance use is criminalized in Malaysia, making MSM bear the dual burden of stigma and discrimination, including in healthcare, which promotes P/SUD disparities in MSM. MSM are often hesitant to disclose their sexuality, risk behaviors or depressive symptoms, mostly due to fear of stigma, discrimination, or criminalization. Stigma and discrimination are also enacted on MSM by healthcare providers resulting in extraordinary health disparities and low prevention uptake. Strategies that facilitate screening and prevention practices in a non-judgmental fashion are likely to increase access to evidence-based prevention like HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), especially if screening and counseling addresses P/SUD. Introducing an innovative app-based platform to deliver holistic HIV prevention services represents a paradigm shift in HIV prevention since it can deliver effective prevention in a confidential, less-stigmatizing and convenient manner. Building on the advantages for scalability and dissemination afforded using app platform, we propose to develop and test the efficacy of a clinic-affiliated app (myCareLink) to deliver an integrated HIV prevention intervention that will promote HIV testing and linkage to PrEP and incorporates screening and support for underlying P/SUD in Malaysian MSM. The design of this study will take place in 2 phases. The R21 phase will consist of 2 stages: 1) We will adapt, expand and refine an existing app, which will be integrated within the existing clinical care system. First, we will conduct focus groups with MSM (n=25) and stakeholders (n=10) to theater test the existing app to develop an interactive prototype of the myCareLink app (alpha version). Then, the prototype will undergo usability testing (n=20), followed by the full development of the app (beta version); 2) Expanded Beta testing (n=50) of the myCareLink app will assess its usability and acceptability. The R33 phase will involve conducting a Type 1 Hybrid Implementation Science Trial to evaluate the efficacy of myCareLink app vs. treatment as usual (TAU) in 268 Malaysian MSM for primary (HIV testing and PrEP uptake) and secondary (PrEP adherence and persistence) efficacy outcomes. Multi-level implementation outcomes will involve stakeholders’ perspective of the relative advantage of myCareLink app over TAU, adaptability, perceived design quality and packaging, compatibility in the Malaysian context, interest in sharing the app with others and readiness for implementation. Research capacity strengthening between Yale and the University of Malaya will occur through collaborative learning between researchers at both institutions to promote expansion of mHealth research.

摘要 马来西亚的艾滋病毒流行正在迅速扩大，最近的证据表明， 传播，特别是在男男性行为者中：2008年为10%，2016年为54%。有证据表明男男性行为者中艾滋病毒感染率很高 全国（21.6%）和吉隆坡（43%）。艾滋病毒在男男性行为者中蔓延的核心是 无安全套性行为，性传播感染，以及同时发生的精神和物质使用障碍（P/SUD），特别是抑郁症 和苯丙胺类兴奋剂（ATS）的使用。对马来西亚艾滋病毒预防差距的认识是多方面的。 在马来西亚，同性恋和药物使用都被定为犯罪，这使得男男性行为者承受着耻辱的双重负担 和歧视，包括在医疗保健方面，这促进了男男性行为者中的P/SUD差异。男同性恋者往往犹豫不决 透露他们的性行为、危险行为或抑郁症状，主要是因为害怕耻辱、歧视， 或刑事化。医疗保健提供者也对男男性行为者实施羞辱和歧视， 健康方面的差距很大，预防措施的普及率很低。促进筛查和预防的战略 非评判性的做法可能会增加获得艾滋病毒检测等循证预防的机会 和暴露前预防（PrEP），特别是如果筛查和咨询解决P/SUD。引入 一个基于应用程序的创新平台提供全面的艾滋病毒预防服务，代表了艾滋病毒领域的范式转变 这是因为它可以以保密、不那么污名化和方便的方式提供有效的预防。 基于应用程序平台提供的可扩展性和传播优势，我们建议开发 并测试诊所附属应用程序（myCareLink）提供综合艾滋病预防干预的有效性 这将促进艾滋病毒检测和与PrEP的联系，并纳入对潜在的P/SUD的筛查和支持 马来西亚MSM本研究的设计将分2个阶段进行。R21阶段将包括两个阶段：1） 我们将调整、扩展和完善现有的应用程序，并将其整合到现有的临床护理系统中。 首先，我们将与MSM（n=25）和利益相关者（n=10）进行焦点小组讨论，对现有应用程序进行剧院测试， 开发myCareLink应用程序的交互式原型（alpha版本）。然后，原型将经历 可用性测试（n=20），然后是应用程序的完整开发（beta版）; 2）扩展Beta测试 （n=50）将评估其可用性和可接受性。R33阶段将涉及进行 1型混合实施科学试验，以评价myCareLink应用程序与常规治疗的疗效 (TAU)在268名马来西亚男男性接触者中进行初级（艾滋病毒检测和PrEP摄取）和次级（PrEP依从性和 持久性）功效结果。多层次的执行成果将涉及利益攸关方的观点， myCareLink应用程序相对于TAU、适应性、感知设计质量和包装的相对优势， 在马来西亚环境中的兼容性，与他人分享应用程序的兴趣和实施的准备。 耶鲁大学和马来亚大学之间的研究能力加强将通过合作进行 这两个机构的研究人员之间的学习，以促进扩大mHealth研究。