Effects of mobile health on HIV risk reduction for men who have sex with men

ABSTRACT

Mobile health (M-Health) has become a novel method for HIV prevention and the effects need to be promoted. The study purpose was to exam how a smartphone application (app) reduces HIV risky behaviour in men who have sex with men (MSM). The Safe Behaviour and Screening (SBS) app was developed, and included five features: record, output, and resources connection; information provision; testing services; interaction; and online statistics. A random assignment was used. The experimental group used the SBS app for six months. The control group did not use any intervention. There were 130 participants in the experimental group, and 135 in the control group. The average age of all subjects was 27.38 (SD = 5.56). Compared to the control group, the experimental group had significantly higher mean score of safe behaviour knowledge, motivation, and skills; percentage of condom use during anal intercourse; frequency of searching for testing resources and getting HIV and syphilis tests. The frequency of anal intercourse and recreational drug usage were significantly lower in the experimental group. The SBS app could decrease the HIV risky behaviour among MSM and be applied to HIV prevention and nursing intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• Mobile health (M-Health)
• smartphone app
• men who have sex with men (MSM)
• risky behaviour
• HIV test

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank all the participants who completed the study and used the app.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Piao-Yi Chiou http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8255-6285

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan [grant number MOST 104-2314 B-227-007].