A Mixed-Methods Study on the Acceptability of Using eHealth for HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China
BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). Over half of all HIV-positive MSM in China may not know their HIV status. Mobile phones and Web interventions (eHealth) are underutilized resources that show promise for supporting HIV...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2015-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.jmir.org/2015/4/e100/ |
| _version_ | 1818774484375568384 |
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| author | Muessig, Kathryn E Bien, Cedric H Wei, Chongyi Lo, Elaine J Yang, Min Tucker, Joseph D Yang, Ligang Meng, Gang Hightow-Weidman, Lisa B |
| author_facet | Muessig, Kathryn E Bien, Cedric H Wei, Chongyi Lo, Elaine J Yang, Min Tucker, Joseph D Yang, Ligang Meng, Gang Hightow-Weidman, Lisa B |
| author_sort | Muessig, Kathryn E |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). Over half of all HIV-positive MSM in China may not know their HIV status. Mobile phones and Web interventions (eHealth) are underutilized resources that show promise for supporting HIV education, testing, and linkage to care.
ObjectiveThis mixed-methods study among MSM in China assessed technology utilization and eHealth acceptability for sexual health care.
MethodsWe conducted in-depth interviews and an online survey. Qualitative analyses informed the development of the Internet survey, which was administered through two popular MSM websites. Bivariate and multivariate analysis assessed characteristics of MSM interested in eHealth for sexual health care.
ResultsThe qualitative sample included MSM across a range of ages, education, marital status, sexuality, and HIV testing experience. Qualitative findings included the importance of the Internet as the primary source of information about sexual health, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), use of the Internet to enable HIV testing opportunities by facilitating connections with both the gay community and health care providers, and mixed perceptions regarding the confidentiality of eHealth tools for sexual health. Among the Internet sample (N=1342), the average age was 30.6 years old, 82.81% (1098/1342) were single, and 53.42% (711/1331) had completed college. In the past 3 months, 38.66% (382/988) had condomless sex and 60.53% (805/1330) self-reported having ever tested for HIV. The majority of men owned computers (94.14%, 1220/1296) and mobile phones (92.32%, 1239/1342), which many had used to search for HIV/STD information and testing sites. In multivariate analysis, interest in using computers or mobile phones to support their sexual health care was associated with being a student, prior use of computers or mobile phones to search for general health information, prior use of computers or mobile phones to search for HIV/STD information, and confidentiality concerns.
ConclusionsMSM in this sample had high utilization of technology and interest in eHealth despite confidentiality concerns. Future eHealth interventions can thoughtfully and creatively address these concerns as a priority for successful implementation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T10:41:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de6e442d991f4ca6b232bbb1389fb759 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T10:41:53Z |
| publishDate | 2015-04-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-de6e442d991f4ca6b232bbb1389fb7592022-12-21T21:10:37ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712015-04-01174e10010.2196/jmir.3370A Mixed-Methods Study on the Acceptability of Using eHealth for HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in ChinaMuessig, Kathryn EBien, Cedric HWei, ChongyiLo, Elaine JYang, MinTucker, Joseph DYang, LigangMeng, GangHightow-Weidman, Lisa BBackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). Over half of all HIV-positive MSM in China may not know their HIV status. Mobile phones and Web interventions (eHealth) are underutilized resources that show promise for supporting HIV education, testing, and linkage to care. ObjectiveThis mixed-methods study among MSM in China assessed technology utilization and eHealth acceptability for sexual health care. MethodsWe conducted in-depth interviews and an online survey. Qualitative analyses informed the development of the Internet survey, which was administered through two popular MSM websites. Bivariate and multivariate analysis assessed characteristics of MSM interested in eHealth for sexual health care. ResultsThe qualitative sample included MSM across a range of ages, education, marital status, sexuality, and HIV testing experience. Qualitative findings included the importance of the Internet as the primary source of information about sexual health, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), use of the Internet to enable HIV testing opportunities by facilitating connections with both the gay community and health care providers, and mixed perceptions regarding the confidentiality of eHealth tools for sexual health. Among the Internet sample (N=1342), the average age was 30.6 years old, 82.81% (1098/1342) were single, and 53.42% (711/1331) had completed college. In the past 3 months, 38.66% (382/988) had condomless sex and 60.53% (805/1330) self-reported having ever tested for HIV. The majority of men owned computers (94.14%, 1220/1296) and mobile phones (92.32%, 1239/1342), which many had used to search for HIV/STD information and testing sites. In multivariate analysis, interest in using computers or mobile phones to support their sexual health care was associated with being a student, prior use of computers or mobile phones to search for general health information, prior use of computers or mobile phones to search for HIV/STD information, and confidentiality concerns. ConclusionsMSM in this sample had high utilization of technology and interest in eHealth despite confidentiality concerns. Future eHealth interventions can thoughtfully and creatively address these concerns as a priority for successful implementation.http://www.jmir.org/2015/4/e100/ |
| spellingShingle | Muessig, Kathryn E Bien, Cedric H Wei, Chongyi Lo, Elaine J Yang, Min Tucker, Joseph D Yang, Ligang Meng, Gang Hightow-Weidman, Lisa B A Mixed-Methods Study on the Acceptability of Using eHealth for HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | A Mixed-Methods Study on the Acceptability of Using eHealth for HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China |
| title_full | A Mixed-Methods Study on the Acceptability of Using eHealth for HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China |
| title_fullStr | A Mixed-Methods Study on the Acceptability of Using eHealth for HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Mixed-Methods Study on the Acceptability of Using eHealth for HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China |
| title_short | A Mixed-Methods Study on the Acceptability of Using eHealth for HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China |
| title_sort | mixed methods study on the acceptability of using ehealth for hiv prevention and sexual health care among men who have sex with men in china |
| url | http://www.jmir.org/2015/4/e100/ |
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