A Digital Gaming Intervention to Improve HIV Testing for Adolescents and Young Adults: Protocol for Development and a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.29792
• Publication Date: 2021-04-23T16:45:13Z
• Authors: Amanda D Castel; Brittany Wilbourn; Connie Trexler; Lawrence D D'Angelo; Daniel Greenberg
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 4. Education; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Two strategies of the US Ending HIV Epidemic initiative are early diagnosis infections via widespread testing and prevention new using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). These particularly important for adolescents young adults (AYAs) who disproportionately affected by HIV, if they identify as Black and/or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, others (LGBTQ+). This study will develop test an interactive life-simulation game in which players can enact real-life behaviors receive their risk profile to improve PrEP access among AYAs aged 13-24 years Washington, DC. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> mixed methods aims determine acceptability interactive, enhanced prototype AYAs, conduct a pilot gaming intervention small cohort ensure usability acceptability, evaluate efficacy randomized controlled with at <title>METHODS</title> research protocol be conducted 3 phases. A formative phase involve surveys focus groups (n=64) living DC area. allow researchers understand youth preferences enhancement. The second consist (n=10) intervention. modify based on results planned recruitment data collection strategy intended end users. third 300 examine compared app-based educational materials changing testing, knowledge, behaviors, access. Participants have unlimited either app months from time enrollment. Study assessments occur enrollment 1, 3, 6 post e-surveys. At months, subset participants (n=25) participate in-depth &lt;i&gt;exit&lt;/i&gt; interviews regarding experience being study. <title>RESULTS</title> Institutional review board approval was received February 5, 2020. project is currently recruiting phase. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> increase In this intervention, promote seeking. Such has great potential knowledge motivation self-efficacy related use, decrease individual structural barriers that often preclude engagement services. <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04917575; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04917575 <title>INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT</title> PRR1-10.2196/29792