HIV/AIDS risk among young men who use the Internet

描述（由申请人提供）：美国的监测估计表明，男男性行为的年轻男性（YMSM）中新的艾滋病毒/艾滋病病例再次出现。研究者的职业目标是成为一名独立的科学家，为YMSM设计和实施基于互联网的艾滋病毒预防干预措施，因为互联网有望通过YMSM的虚拟网络推进艾滋病毒/艾滋病研究和传播艾滋病毒/艾滋病预防计划。此职业发展奖的重点是加强研究者的互联网研究技能。研究人员将把他的新技能应用到一个项目中，该项目将探索年轻男性使用互联网约会的原因和方式，并测试年轻男性在约会时使用安全套的意图与艾滋病毒/艾滋病风险之间的关系。每个培训目标都与一个研究活动相匹配。培训目标是：1)掌握基于互联网的数据收集、测量适应和干预发展所需的方法学策略；2)开发、设计和实施具有尖端互动增强功能的网络调查，以保留和最大限度地完成调查；3)精通开发和使用心理测量学健全的基于网络的评估来研究艾滋病毒/艾滋病风险；4)加强他在网络研究道德行为方面的培训，包括招聘、数据收集、管理和安全方面的考虑。以下具体目标指导研究计划：1)描述YMSM的约会经历，并在HIV/AIDS预防的机会和限制的背景下讨论这些经历；2)制定（或调整）措施，在不同种族的青年男性（18-24岁）样本中捕捉青年男性的约会经历和使用安全套的意图；3)描述和表征YMSM的虚拟社交网络；4)评估YMSM恋爱期望和约会时使用安全套的心理测量特性；5)研究虚拟社交网络特征、浪漫期望、约会时使用安全套的意图和艾滋病风险因素在使用互联网约会的YMSM中使用安全套的预测作用。研究结果将为后续干预措施的制定提供信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Surveillance estimates in the US indicate a resurgence of new HIV/AIDS cases among young men who have sex with men (YMSM).The investigator's career goal is to become an independent scientist who designs and implements Internet-based HIV-prevention interventions for YMSM given the Internet's promise for advancing HIV/AIDS research and diffusing HIV/AIDS prevention programs through YMSM's virtual networks. This Career Development Award focuses on strengthening the investigator's Internet research skills. The investigator will apply his new skills in a project that explores why and how YMSM use the Internet for dating and test how YMSM's intentions to use condoms with dates are associated with HIV/AIDS risk. Each training goal is matched to a research activity. Training goals are to:1) Master methodological strategies required for Internet- based data collection, measurement adaptation and intervention development;2) Develop, design and implement web-surveys that feature cutting-edge interactive enhancements to retain and maximize survey completion;3) Become proficient in the development and use of psychometrically-sound web-based assessments to study HIV/AIDS risk;4) Advance his training in the ethical conduct of web research, including considerations regarding recruitment, and data collection, management and security. The following specific aims guide the research proposal to: 1) Describe YMSM's dating experiences and discuss these experiences in the context of the opportunities and limitations they present for HIV/AIDS prevention; 2) Develop (or adapt) measures that capture YMSM's dating experiences and intentions to use condoms with their dates in an ethnically-diverse sample of YMSM (ages 18-24); 3) Describe and characterize YMSM's virtual social networks; 4) Assess the psychometric properties of measures regarding YMSM's romantic expectations and condom use with dates; and 5) Examine the role of virtual social networks characteristics, romantic expectations, condom use intentions with dates, and HIV/AIDS risk factors as predictors of condom use among YMSM who use the Internet to date. Findings will inform the development of a subsequent intervention.