HOPE Social Media Intervention for HIV Testing and Studying Social Networks

摘要：在一项随机对照试验中，通过6个月和1年的随访，本申请旨在评估利用在线同伴教育（Harnessing Online Peer Education， HOPE）社交媒体干预是否可以提高非洲裔美国人和拉丁裔男男性行为者（MSM）的艾滋病毒自我检测，并分析该干预中参与者社会网络特征的变化。创新的艾滋病毒预防和治疗方法对于控制艾滋病毒的传播至关重要，特别是在感染艾滋病毒风险最高的与男性发生性关系的非洲裔美国人和拉丁裔男子中。以社区为基础的艾滋病毒预防战略，如同伴领导扩散模式，在传播减少艾滋病毒风险行为方面取得了成功，但需要时间和经济资源。随着最近非裔美国人和拉丁裔男男性行为者中社交媒体使用量的增加，社交媒体和Facebook等在线社交网络可能被用于高效和经济地提供基于证据的、同伴主导的艾滋病毒预防干预措施。检测技术的进步，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，使参与者能够匿名检测艾滋病毒，而不会冒着与亲自检测相关的污名化的风险。由于社交网络干预措施提供了有关社交网络特征的丰富数据（例如，参与者随时间结交的朋友数量、在线网络内健康交流的内容），因此可以记录这些信息并用于改进干预措施的实施。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裔美国人和拉丁裔男同性恋者中提供以同龄人为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；c)社会网络动态与艾滋病毒预防行为改变之间的关系。然而，需要更多的研究来确定使用社交媒体来增加非洲裔美国人和拉丁裔男男性行为者的艾滋病毒检测和护理联系的大规模有效性。在这项研究中，HIV阴性的非裔美国人和拉丁裔男男性行为者将被邀请加入一个与HIV预防相关的在线（私人）Facebook小组，并在12周内与接受过HIV预防培训的同龄人领导进行互动，随访6个月和1年。与对照组的参与者相比，在Facebook上接受12周同伴传递的一般健康信息，我们预测接受12周同伴传递的艾滋病毒预防信息的参与者将更有可能接受基于家庭的艾滋病毒检测。我们还将测量参与者的社会网络数据，以评估不断变化的社会网络动态（如密度、网络规模）与干预效果之间的关系。

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.