Preferences for Sexual Health Smartphone App Features Among Gay and Bisexual Men

Ana Ventuneac; Steven A. John; Thomas H.F. Whitfield; Brian Mustanski; Jeffrey T. Parsons

doi:10.1007/s10461-018-2171-9

Preferences for Sexual Health Smartphone App Features Among Gay and Bisexual Men

Ana Ventuneac, Steven A. John, Thomas H.F. Whitfield, Brian Mustanski^*, Jeffrey T. Parsons

^*Corresponding author for this work

Medical Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Given the popularity of geosocial networking applications (“apps”) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), this study sought to examine GBMSM’s willingness to use sexual health and behavior tracking features if integrated within apps they are already using to meet sexual partners. Most GBMSM (91%) recruited on a popular app reported interest in one or more sexual health app features, including features to find LGBT-friendly providers (83%), receive lab results (68%), schedule appointment reminders (67%), chat with a healthcare provider (59%), and receive medication reminder alerts (42%). Fewer GBMSM were interested in tracking and receiving feedback on their sexual behavior (35%) and substance use (24%). Our data suggest that integrating sexual health and behavior tracking features for GBMSM who use apps could be promising in engaging them in HIV prevention interventions. Further research is needed on GBMSM’s perspectives about potential barriers in using such features.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	3384-3394
Number of pages	11
Journal	AIDS and behavior
Volume	22
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2171-9
State	Published - Oct 1 2018

Funding

Data for this study were collected in concert with online recruitment efforts for the Keep It Up! randomized controlled trial funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA035145, PI: Mustanski). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors would like to give special thanks to Krystal Madkins and Craig Sineath for managing the advertisement campaign, Katie Andrews for survey programming and data management, and Mark Pawson and Ruben Jimenez for their contributions to the project. Ana Ventuneac, Steven A. John, Thomas H. F. Whitfield, Brian Mustanski, and Jeffrey T. Parsons declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Keywords

HIV prevention
MSM
Mobile technology
Sexual health
Smartphone app

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases
Social Psychology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10461-018-2171-9

Cite this

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title = "Preferences for Sexual Health Smartphone App Features Among Gay and Bisexual Men",

abstract = "Given the popularity of geosocial networking applications (“apps”) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), this study sought to examine GBMSM{\textquoteright}s willingness to use sexual health and behavior tracking features if integrated within apps they are already using to meet sexual partners. Most GBMSM (91%) recruited on a popular app reported interest in one or more sexual health app features, including features to find LGBT-friendly providers (83%), receive lab results (68%), schedule appointment reminders (67%), chat with a healthcare provider (59%), and receive medication reminder alerts (42%). Fewer GBMSM were interested in tracking and receiving feedback on their sexual behavior (35%) and substance use (24%). Our data suggest that integrating sexual health and behavior tracking features for GBMSM who use apps could be promising in engaging them in HIV prevention interventions. Further research is needed on GBMSM{\textquoteright}s perspectives about potential barriers in using such features.",

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AU - Parsons, Jeffrey T.

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N2 - Given the popularity of geosocial networking applications (“apps”) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), this study sought to examine GBMSM’s willingness to use sexual health and behavior tracking features if integrated within apps they are already using to meet sexual partners. Most GBMSM (91%) recruited on a popular app reported interest in one or more sexual health app features, including features to find LGBT-friendly providers (83%), receive lab results (68%), schedule appointment reminders (67%), chat with a healthcare provider (59%), and receive medication reminder alerts (42%). Fewer GBMSM were interested in tracking and receiving feedback on their sexual behavior (35%) and substance use (24%). Our data suggest that integrating sexual health and behavior tracking features for GBMSM who use apps could be promising in engaging them in HIV prevention interventions. Further research is needed on GBMSM’s perspectives about potential barriers in using such features.

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Preferences for Sexual Health Smartphone App Features Among Gay and Bisexual Men

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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