Advancing HIV Prevention and Linkage to Care Among MSM With Gamification

This study is a pilot evaluation of 'Stick To It', a behavioral intervention based on the concept of gamification. The objective of the program is to encourage young men who have sex with men (MSM) to be regularly screened for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to adopt safer sexual behaviors, with the ultimate goal to decrease HIV and STI incidence. Gamification is the application of game elements, like points, badges, and rewards, to non-game settings.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: HIV Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Stick To It

Detailed Description

The investigators will conduct a quasi-experimental pilot study of 'Stick To It', a prevention intervention that uses gamification principles and mechanics. The intervention includes an online timer that reminds men to get tested, online quizzes, and peer recruitment; these activities are awarded with points redeemable for chances at prizes at participating clinics. The intervention was designed based on findings from interviews with health staff and focus groups with young MSM, and with input from a gamification consultant. The primary hypothesis is that the intervention will increase repeat HIV/STI testing among young MSM. The intervention will be implemented at two STI clinics in Oakland and Los Angeles, California in 2-week intervals for six months. The investigators will review medical records of exposed and unexposed young MSM attending the same STI clinics to compare uptake of quarterly HIV testing and self-reported behavior after six months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 166
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90027
      • AHF Hollywood Wellness Center
    • Oakland, California, United States, 94606
      • AHF Wellness Center Oakland

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 26 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-26 years of age
• male
• self-identify as gay / bisexual / queer
• willing and able to provide informed consent to join the Stick To It program
• resident in one of several zip code areas surrounding the clinic

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not a resident of one of included zip code areas

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Comparison: Standard of Care; Standard services available to all men at AHF Wellness Centers.
Active Comparator: Intervention: 'Stick To It' Intervention; Behavioral intervention.	Behavioral: Stick To It; The intervention is a prize system linked to points earned through online and real-world activities designed to incentivize young MSM to test for HIV and STIs every three months. Participants receive points for pre-determined activities, such as: answering online quizzes, inviting friends to participate, and getting tested for HIV/STIs. Points are redeemable in person at two AIDS Healthcare Foundation Men's Wellness Centers, where participants will be able to exchange their points for gumballs from a gumball machine; different color combinations of gumballs correspond to prizes of different values. Participants are reminded to get tested regularly via SMS messages; in addition, they can check when their next test is due by checking their testing timer on the stick2it.org website.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Repeat HIV Testing	The number of men in the intervention who receive ≥1 additional HIV tests over 6 months of follow-up	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HIV-related risk behavior	We will determine the number of reported sex partners, the prevalence and frequency of unprotected anal intercourse with a partner of opposite or unknown status in the past 6 months	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, Berkeley
• Collaborators: University of California, Los Angeles; AIDS Healthcare Foundation
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sandra I McCoy, PhD, Assistant Adjunct Professor

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Mejia CM, Acland D, Buzdugan R, Grimball R, Natoli L, McGrath MR, Klausner JD, McCoy SI. An Intervention Using Gamification to Increase Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in California: Rationale and Design of Stick To It. JMIR Res Protoc. 2017 Jul 17;6(7):e140. doi: 10.2196/resprot.8064.

Helpful Links

• Link to intervention website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 31, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 25, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): October 27, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 22, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 20, 2018
• Last Verified: February 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Infections; Communicable Diseases; Disease Attributes; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: R34MH106359 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO