HOPE Social Media Intervention for HIV Testing and Studying Social Networks

产品说明：在一项随机对照试验中，随访6个月和1年，本申请旨在评估利用在线同伴教育（HOPE）社交媒体干预是否可用于增加非洲裔美国人和拉丁美洲男性同性恋者（MSM）的艾滋病毒自我检测，并分析参与者在此干预中不断变化的社交网络特征。艾滋病毒预防和治疗的创新方法对于控制艾滋病毒的传播至关重要，特别是在非洲裔美国人和拉丁美洲男男性行为者（MSM）中，他们是艾滋病毒的最高风险。以社区为基础的艾滋病毒预防战略，如同伴领导人传播模式，已成功地传播艾滋病毒风险行为减少，但需要时间和经济资源。随着最近非裔美国人和拉丁美洲男男性行为者使用社交媒体的增加，社交媒体和Facebook等在线社交网络可用于有效和具有成本效益地提供基于证据的同行领导的艾滋病毒预防干预措施。检测技术的进步，例如家庭艾滋病毒检测，可以整合到在线艾滋病毒预防干预措施中，允许参与者匿名检测艾滋病毒，而不会冒着与面对面检测相关的耻辱的风险。因为社交网络干预提供了关于社交网络特征的丰富数据（例如，参与者随时间结交的朋友的数量、在线网络内的健康通信的内容），该信息可以被记录并用于改进干预递送。我们的洛杉矶HOPE试点研究的结果已经证明了a）使用社交网络技术在非洲裔美国人和拉丁美洲男男性接触者中提供同伴主导的艾滋病毒预防的可行性和可接受性，B）这些人群对家庭艾滋病毒检测的兴趣，以及c）社交网络动态与艾滋病毒预防行为变化之间的关系。然而，还需要更多的研究，更大的样本，以确定使用社交媒体来增加艾滋病毒检测的大规模有效性，以及非洲裔美国人和拉丁美洲男男性行为者与护理的联系。在这项研究中，艾滋病毒阴性的非洲裔美国人和拉丁美洲男男性行为者将被邀请加入一个与艾滋病毒预防有关的在线（私人）Facebook小组，并与接受过艾滋病毒预防培训的同龄人领导人进行为期12周的互动，并进行6个月和1年的随访。与对照组参与者通过Facebook群组接受12周的同伴提供的一般健康信息相比，我们预测接受12周同伴提供的艾滋病毒预防信息的参与者将更有可能接受家庭艾滋病毒检测。我们还将测量参与者的社交网络数据，以评估不断变化的社交网络动态（例如，密度、网络规模）和干预效果。

DESCRIPTION: In a randomized controlled trial, with 6-month and 1-year follow-up, this application aims to evaluate whether the Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE) social media intervention can be used to increase HIV self- testing among African American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), and to analyze the changing social network characteristics of participants in this intervention. Innovative approaches to HIV prevention and treatment are critical in the attempt to control the spread of HIV, especially among African American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), who are at the highest risk for HIV. Community-based HIV prevention strategies, such as peer leader diffusion models, have been successful in spreading HIV-risk behavior reductions, but require time and economic resources. With the recent increase in social media usage among African American and Latino MSM, social media and online social networks such as Facebook might be used to efficiently and cost-effectively deliver evidenced-based, peer-led HIV prevention interventions. Advances in testing technology, such as home-based HIV testing, can be integrated into an online HIV prevention intervention to allow participants to anonymously test for HIV without risking the stigmatization associated with in-person testing. Because social networking interventions provide rich data on social network characteristics (e.g., the number of friends participants make over time, content of health communication within online networks), this information can be recorded and used to improve intervention delivery. Results from our Los Angeles HOPE pilot study have already demonstrated a) the feasibility and acceptability of using social networking technologies to deliver peer-led HIV prevention among African American and Latino MSM, b) interest in home-based HIV testing among these populations, and c) the relationship between social network dynamics and HIV prevention behavior change. However, additional research is needed with a larger sample to determine the large-scale effectiveness of using social media to increase HIV testing and linkage to care among African American and Latino MSM. In this study, HIV negative African-American and Latino MSM will be invited to join an online (private) Facebook group related to HIV prevention and interact with peer leaders trained in HIV prevention over 12 weeks, with 6-month and 1-year follow-up. Compared to control group participants receiving 12 weeks of peer- delivered general health information over Facebook groups, we predict that participants receiving 12 weeks of peer-delivered HIV prevention information will be more likely to take a home-based HIV test. We will also measure participants' social network data to assess the relationship between changing social network dynamics (e.g., density, network size) and intervention effects.