utech: machine learning for hiv prevention among substance using gbmsm

Conditions: Sexually Transmitted Diseases; HIV Infections; Implementation Science; Substance Use; MSM

Summary: this project seeks to develop and test the acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of utech, a novel social media "big data" machine learning intervention for hiv-negative substance-using sexual and gender minority people who have sex with men that aims to reduce hiv transmission risk by integrating biomedical and behavioral risk reduction strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (prep) for hiv prevention and medication assisted treatment (mat) for substance use harm reduction

the project will occur in two phases. in phase 1, we will conduct qualitative interviews with gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (gbmsm) using an iterative user-centered design process, which will result in a refined version of the utech intervention. in phase 2, we will conduct a comparative acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility trial with 330 individuals, who will be randomized to (1) receive the utech intervention and an existing, evidence-based motivational enhancement intervention for hiv risk and substance use prevention (ymhp) or (2) receive ymhp alone. utech is innovative in that it includes both core intervention modules and highly personalized intervention content based on participants' social media use. the tailored intervention content can be delivered via text message or facebook messenger. this content relies on our previously developed machine learning algorithm, which helps participants understand their technology-use behavior in relation to hiv-risk and substance use.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * 18 years of age or older * current sexual identity as a sexual minority * current gender identity as a gender minority * have had anal and/or oral sex with a man in the past 3 months * use an illicit substance (such as methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy) or a legal substance (such as alcohol or marijuana) in the past 3 months * have had sex while using any substance in the past 3 months * use a gay-specific social media/networking/dating app in the past 3 months to seek sexual and drug use partners * willing to participate in audio-recorded interviews over zoom * comfortable answering questions in english * use an android or ios smartphone * negative or unsure about hiv status * comfortable with downloading an app that captures a variety of text-based information from their phone over the course of 12-months * currently living and/or sleeping in los angeles county * willing to participate in this study. exclusion criteria: * under 18 years of age * does not currently identify as a gender or sexual minority * have not had anal and/or oral sex with a man in the past 3 months * have not used an illicit substance (such as methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy) or legal substance (such as alcohol or marijuana) in the past 3 months * have not had sex while using any substance in the past 3 months * have not used a gay-specific social media/networking/dating app in the past 3 months to seek sexual and drug use partners * are not willing to participate in audio-recorded interviews over zoom * do not feel comfortable answering questions in english * do not use an android or ios smartphone * hiv status is positive * do not feel comfortable with downloading an app that captures a variety of text-based information from their phone over the course of 12-months * are not currently living and/or sleeping in los angeles county * am not willing to participate in this study.

Keywords: msm sexual and gender minorities substance use social media hiv prevention