Tough Talks™ Virtual Simulation HIV Disclosure Intervention for Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Development and Usability Testing (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.38354
• Publication Date: 2022-04-07T13:45:42Z
• Authors: Lisa B. Hightow-W...; Kathryn Muessig; Zach Soberano; Matthew T. Rosso; Andrew Currie; Margo Adams Larsen; Kelly Knudtson; Alyssa Vecchio
• Keywords: mHealth; Social Cognitive Theory

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> HIV status disclosure is an important decision with barriers specific to young men who have sex (YMSM), the highest rates of new infections in United States (US). Behavioral and social determinants difficulty disclose can include fear rejection, stigma, loss financial stability, a lack communication skills. Once able disclose, person may increased access support, improved medication adherence, informed risk reduction conversations. Despite known challenges advantages disclosure, there are few effective tools supporting this behavior. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> To address gap interventions, Tough Talks™ App (TT), mHealth intervention using artificially intelligent (AI)-facilitated role-playing scenarios, was developed for YMSM. Here we report stages developing integrated app results usability testing. <title>METHODS</title> Building on successful phase 1, subsequently enhanced interactive dialogue feature YMSM practice disclosing their placed within context comprehensive support disclosure. We assessed iteration acceptability relevance study eight HIV. Participants completed pre-survey, modules, semi-structured qualitative interview. <title>RESULTS</title> TT content activities were based Social Cognitive Theory Disclosure Process Model framework expanded into 4-module curriculum. The AI-facilitated scenarios associated utterance database refined from crowdsourced comic book contest. In testing, reported high satisfaction TT, 31 out 33 (93%) receiving positive ratings. found be representative relevant lived experiences, though, they noted having nuanced conversations AI. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> engaging practical self-disclosure among Facilitating decisions has potential impact engagement sexual behaviors care. More information needed about ideal environment, technical clinical connection intervention. being tested as scalable multi-site, randomized control trial outstanding questions accessibility effect viral suppression. <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> NCT03414372