AllyQuest: Engaging HIV+ YMSM in Care Through Social Networking and Gamification

NCT03090958 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: 15-09485R21MH107266-02
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

AllyQuest is a novel, high impact secondary prevention intervention delivered via mobile phones to improve linkage and engagement in care among newly diagnosed HIV+ young men who have sex with men (YMSM). The features of the intervention aim to target previously identified barriers to care among newly diagnosed youth, namely, low HIV health literacy, lack of social support, and internalized stigma related to their diagnosis. AllyQuest will be an interactive mobile phone intervention for HIV+ YMSM that utilizes social networking, game-based mechanics and a story-based framework to guide behavior change. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, narrative communication and the principles of persuasive technology, the intervention is designed to capitalize on social involvement as a means through which HIV+ YMSM can receive information and social support, experience social norms and reflective appraisals, and feel a sense of connectedness to peers.

Conditions

Hiv; HIV/AIDS

Keywords

technology; app; YMSM; HIV

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Number of Participants That Were Enrolled of Those Screened

  Feasibility of AllyQuest will be based on recruitment success as measured by the total number of individuals who are screened vs. the total number of individuals who are recruited and subsequently enrolled.

  4 weeks

• Number of Participants That Missed Follow up Interviews

  Feasibility of AllyQuest will be based retention as measured by the number of missed follow up interviews. Follow up attempts will be documented.

  4 weeks

• Average Number of Days Participants Logged in.

  Feasibility of AllyQuest will be based on usage as measured by the average number days participants access the app.

  4 weeks

• Number of Individuals Who Enroll But do Not Participate

  Feasibility of AllyQuest will be based on the number of individuals who enroll and do not participate.

  4 weeks

• Average Total Time in Minutes Participants Spent Using App.

  Feasibility of AllyQuest will be based on usage as measured by the average time spent using app.

  4 weeks

• Average Number of App Actions by Participants

  Feasibility of AllyQuest will be based on usage as measured by the average number of activities completed (daily quests), articles read, and social posts made.

  4 weeks

• Average Days Participants Logged Medications.

  Feasibility of AllyQuest will be based on usage as measured by the average number of days participants logged their medications in the app.

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• System Usability Scale Scores

  4 weeks

• Client Satisfaction Questionnaire Score

  4 weeks

Study Arms (1)

AllyQuest Pilot

EXPERIMENTAL

The research assistant (RA) will meet with participants in person to explain the study in detail, facilitate app download and login onto participants' phones, and provide an app site tour to highlight features. Participants will complete a baseline demographic and risk assessment administered via a computer assisted survey instrument (CASI). At the end of the one-month field trial, participants will undergo a debriefing session to evaluate their experience using the app, overall satisfaction and any problems they encountered.

Behavioral: AllyQuest

Interventions

AllyQuest BEHAVIORAL

AllyQuest is a novel, high impact secondary prevention intervention delivered via mobile phones to improve linkage and engagement in care among newly diagnosed HIV+ YMSM. The development of this intervention is both timely and vital given the urgency of the ongoing HIV epidemic among YMSM. The features of the intervention aim to target previously identified barriers to care among newly diagnosed youth, namely, low HIV health literacy, lack of social support, and internalized stigma related to their diagnosis.

AllyQuest Pilot

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 24 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: assigned male at birth and self identify as male.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• HIV positive
• Diagnosed in the last 12 months
• Assigned male at birth and self identify as male
• Have had sex with another man in the last twelve months
• Own a smart phone
• Between the ages of 16-24

You may not qualify if:

• Assigned female at birth
• Non-English speaker
• HIV negative

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Alzheimer Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

HIV Infections; Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Slow Virus Diseases; Genital Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Immune System Diseases; Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Lisa Hightow Weidman, MD
• Organization: UNC-Chapel Hill

lisa_hightow@med.unc.edu

919 966 2536

Study Officials

• Lisa Hightow-Weidman, MD, MPH

  UNC-CH

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: In order to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the app. 20 participants will be enrolled in a one month pilot trial. After being screened for eligibility, the research assistant (RA) will meet with participants in person to explain the study in detail, facilitate app download and login onto participants' phones, and provide an app site tour to highlight features. Participants will complete a baseline demographic and risk assessment administered via a computer assisted survey instrument (CASI). At the end of the one-month field trial, participants will undergo a debriefing session to evaluate their experience using the app, overall satisfaction and any problems they encountered.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2017
• First Posted: March 27, 2017
• Study Start: August 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: January 3, 2017
• Study Completion: January 3, 2017
• Last Updated: July 11, 2018
• Results First Posted: June 8, 2018

Record last verified: 2017-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share