Adapting the HealthMindr Mobile App to Increase HIV Testing and PrEP Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in Vietnam

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a mobile health mHealth intervention to improve HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP use among young men who have sex with men in Vietnam, a group experiencing a significant HIV epidemic with a prevalence of 12%. The study aims to adapt an evidence-based app called HealthMindr, originally developed in the United States, to better fit the needs of this population in Vietnam. The study includes theater testing, beta testing, and a randomized controlled trial to assess the apps acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness. Participants will be randomized into two groups the intervention group will receive full access to the adapted HealthMindr app for three months, which offers features such as HIV test planning, risk and PrEP eligibility assessments, ordering free condoms and HIV test kits, and locating PrEP providers and HIV testing sites. The control group will receive standard-of-care HIV prevention information, including written materials and referrals to local services. During theater testing, focus groups and interviews will help refine the app, and beta testing will involve a small group using the app for 30 days before providing feedback. Participants will be assessed at baseline and after three months for HIV testing and PrEP use, along with app usage and acceptability. Data will be collected through online surveys, app analytics, and in-depth interviews with users and stakeholders. The study will also explore barriers and facilitators to implementing the app in Vietnam, aiming to inform future larger scale trials and strategies to reduce HIV incidence in low- and middle-income countries. The total participation time for the intervention group is three months, with ongoing monitoring of outcomes during this period.

Adapting An Evidence-Based Intervention To Improve HIV Testing And PrEP Uptake In Vietnam