2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

327654
Importance of sexual history taking in PrEP acceptability and comprehension among young men of color who have sex with men: Implications for technology-based HIV prevention tools


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 4:50 p.m. - 5:10 p.m.

Sarit Golub, PhD, MPH, Department of Psychology, Hunter College, New York, NY
Kristi Gamarel, PhD, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI
Anthony Surace, BA, Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY
Corina Lelutiu-Weinberger, PhD, Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY
Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has the potential to reduce new infections; however, critical questions remain unanswered as to best ways to disseminate PrEP information to high risk groups, and in particular young men of color who have sex with men (YMCSM). This study examines the importance of taking a sexual history on comprehension and acceptability for YMCSM receiving PrEP information from a health educator or computerized-video.

Methods: Participants (N = 157) were randomly assigned to receive detailed (identical) PrEP information from either a health educator or a video.  Participants were counterbalanced to complete an in-depth sexual history either before or after receiving the message. Participants then completed a self-administered survey on message comprehension and acceptability. We fit separate multivariate regression models to examine the impact of modality and order on acceptability and comprehension, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates.

Results: Overall, 66% of YMCSM reported that they would definitely or probably take PrEP and got all message comprehension questions correct. Completing a sexual history prior to PrEP education was associated with increased comprehension regardless of modality (p < .05). In the video condition, those who completed a sexual history before PrEP education reported increased odds of both message comprehension (aOR=3.19, p <0.05) and PrEP acceptability (aOR = 3.29, p<0.05).  

Conclusions: Study findings underscore the need to personalize and contextualize PrEP messaging for YCMSM and suggest that technology-driven interventions may be more successful if they incorporate a sexual history component.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss considerations for PrEP education and how dynamics of presentation might influence dissemination efforts among young men of color who have sex with men (YMCSM). Describe the importance of in-depth discussions of YMCSM’s sexual history in PrEP education, especially for technology-driven interventions.

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a PhD and years of experience conducting research in the realm of HIV.I have been principal investigator of multiple federally funded grants focusing on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and on HIV prevention interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM). Among my scientific interests is implementation science and the development of evidence-based patient education materials and protocols.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4424.0: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and HIV