Exploring Potential Implementation Barriers and Facilitators of the SMART Program: A Stepped-Care Package of eHealth HIV Prevention Interventions for Adolescent Men Who Have Sex with Men

Ana Ventuneac, Dennis H. Li, Melissa C. Mongrella, David A. Moskowitz, Kenneth R. Weingardt, C. Hendricks Brown, Jeffrey T. Parsons, Brian Mustanski*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Little is known about how to best implement eHealth HIV interventions for adolescent men who have sex with men (AMSM) in real-world settings. In response, our current study describes formative implementation research with community-based organizations (CBOs) in preparation for future implementation of the SMART Program, a stepped-care package of three interventions adapted for AMSM. In-depth interviews focusing on eHealth implementation were conducted with a convenience sample of 12 stakeholders from nine CBOs that actively implemented sexual minority-focused HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Qualitative analysis was conducted using Dedoose to identify salient themes. Most programs implemented at the CBOs engaged adult MSM for HIV prevention, but CBOs reported less experience with outreach of AMSM for HIV prevention. While comfortable with and skilled at implementing traditional in-person HIV prevention programs, interviewees reported that eHealth programs fell outside of their organizations’ technical capacities. They suggested specific strategies to facilitate successful implementation of SMART and other eHealth programs, including technical-capacity-building at CBOs, better training of staff, and partnering with a national coordinating center that provides support for the technology. Overall, the CBOs reported enthusiasm for the SMART Program and thought it was an efficient way to bridge their current gaps in online programming and lack of AMSM HIV prevention strategies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)378-388
Number of pages11
JournalSexuality Research and Social Policy
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (U01MD011281; PI: B. Mustanski). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Finally, we would like to thank the CBO staff and community partners that participated in this study for their time.

Keywords

  • Adolescent men who have sex with men
  • Community-based organizations
  • HIV prevention
  • Implementation science
  • eHealth programs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Gender Studies
  • Sociology and Political Science

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