Acceptability, Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of OurPlan, an mHealth HIV Prevention Intervention for Male Couples (OurPlan)

Acceptability, Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of OurPlan, an mHealth HIV Prevention Intervention for Male Couples

A Patient-centered Decision Aid to Inform HIV Prevention Choices for At-risk Male Couples in New Relationships

The study will evaluate the use and preliminary impact of an mHealth app for improving sexual health outcome measures among male couples by assessing whether exposure and use of the app results in improvements in participants and couples' self-reported sexual health and prevention behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes. The study will enroll both men of the couple into a randomized controlled trial. Participants/couples randomized to the intervention will have access to the app for two months while those assigned to the waitlist group will receive and have access to the app for one month. Participants will complete surveys at baseline and at month 2.

The study will evaluate the use and preliminary impact of an mHealth app for improving sexual health outcome measures among male couples by assessing whether exposure and use of the app results in improvements in participants and couples' self-reported sexual health and prevention behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes. The study will enroll both partners of the 42 male couples into a 2-month randomized controlled trial with a waitlist control condition of one month. Couples will be assigned to either the immediate intervention group ("intervention arm") or the waitlist-control group ("waitlist-control arm"). All participants will take an assessment survey at baseline, and the intervention group will be oriented on the installation and use of the app upon randomization to that group. The waitlist-control group will follow the same procedures one month later. Participants/couples randomized to the intervention arm will have access to the intervention app for two months (ie, day 1-60) while those assigned to the waitlist-control group will have access to the app for one month (ie, day 31-60). All participants in the randomized controlled trial will complete a short follow-up survey at month 2 and a brief exit interview.

From baseline to 2-month post-test, participants in the intervention arm will have access to the OurPlan program app.

Participants in this study arm will not have access to the OurPlan program in the app from baseline to day 30 (month 1) of the trial. From day 31 to day 60, participants in this study arm will be given access to the OurPlan program in the app.

From day 31 to day 60 (ie., during month 2) of the trial, participants in the waitlist arm will be granted access and instructed to use the OurPlan program as directed. The OurPlan program includes 4 modules covering topics of communication, HIV/STI prevention, HIV/STI statistics, and stigma / discrimination. Each module contains content, questions, and an activity for the participant and couple to complete. OurPlan also includes a resource locator using GPS-capabilities to allow participants to find sexual health resources, as well as a calendar and reminder system. One goal of OurPlan is to help both partners of the couple create and use a risk-reduction plan of evidence-based prevention strategies over time. Answers provided during the assessments will help determine whether participants/couples created a risk-reduction plan and used evidence-based strategies over time, including changes in their own and partner-related attitudes toward these strategies.

From day 1 to day 60 (ie., entire 2 month duration) of the trial, participants in the intervention arm will be granted access and instructed to use the OurPlan program as directed. The OurPlan program includes 4 modules covering topics of communication, HIV/STI prevention, HIV/STI statistics, and stigma / discrimination. Each module contains content, questions, and an activity for the participant and couple to complete. OurPlan also includes a resource locator using GPS-capabilities to allow participants to find sexual health resources, as well as a calendar and reminder system. One goal of OurPlan is to help both partners of the couple create and use a risk-reduction plan of evidence-based prevention strategies over time. Answers provided during the assessments will help determine whether participants/couples created a risk-reduction plan and used evidence-based strategies over time, including changes in their own and partner-related attitudes toward these strategies.

Men will be asked if they created a detailed risk-reduction plan containing evidence-based strategies of routine HIV/STI testing, consistent condom use, PrEP, and ART

Inclusion Criteria for both partners of the male couple: self-reported that currently self-identifies as a male self-reported in a sexual relationship with another self-identified male self-reported relationship length between 1 and 12 months self-reported anal sex with relationship partner in past 2 months owns and uses an Internet-connected smartphone or tablet resides in the U.S. self-reported ability to read and understand English-language Exclusion Criteria: Does not meet one or more the inclusion criteria

Interested researchers must email the PI with a request to access de-identified, anonymous IPD. The PI will review such requests for secondary analyses using de-identified data that have already been published.