Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
8-22-2024
Journal
Journal of Medical Internet Research
Abstract
Background: Sexual minority men with HIV are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and have been underrepresented in behavioral research and clinical trials.
Objective: This study aims to explore perceptions of HIV-related comorbidities and assess the interest in and usability of a virtual environment for CVD prevention education in Black and Latinx sexual minority men with HIV.
Methods: This is a 3-phase pilot behavioral randomized controlled trial. We report on formative phases 1 and 2 that informed virtual environment content and features using qualitative interviews, usability testing, and beta testing with a total of 25 individuals. In phase 1, a total of 15 participants completed interviews exploring HIV-related illnesses of concern that would be used to tailor the virtual environment. In phase 2, usability testing and beta testing were conducted with 10 participants to assess interest, features, and content.
Results: In phase 1, we found that CVD risk factors included high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and diabetes. Cancer (prostate, colon, and others) was a common concern, as were mental health conditions. In phase 2, all participants completed the 12-item usability checklist with favorable feedback within 30 to 60 minutes. Beta-testing interviews suggested (1) mixed perceptions of health and HIV, (2) high risk for comorbid conditions, (3) virtual environment features were promising, and (4) the need for diverse avatar representations.
Conclusions: We identified several comorbid conditions of concern, and findings carry significant implications for mitigating barriers to preventive health screenings, given the shared risk factors between HIV and related comorbidities. Highly rated aspects of the virtual environment were anonymity; meeting others with HIV who identify as gay or bisexual; validating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and others (LGBTQ+) images and content; and accessibility to CVD prevention education. Critical end-user feedback from beta testing suggested more options for avatar customization in skin, hair, and body representation. Our next phase will test the virtual environment as a new approach to advancing cardiovascular health equity in ethnic and racial sexual minority men with HIV.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04061915; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05242952.
International registered report identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/38348.
Keywords
Humans, Male, Cardiovascular Diseases, HIV Infections, Pilot Projects, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Adult, Middle Aged, Comorbidity, Virtual Reality, User-Computer Interface, virtual environment; digital health; gamification; eHealth; sexual minorities; cardiovascular disease; HIV; cardiometabolic risk; mental health; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer; LGBTQ health; HIV care; prevention; virtual; minority; men; Latin; Black; men who have sex with men; intervention; high blood pressure; myocardial infarction; preventive health screenings; gay; bisexual; patients; cancer
DOI
10.2196/57351
PMID
38924481
PMCID
PMC11377913
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
8-22-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Included in
Bioinformatics Commons, Biomedical Informatics Commons, Cardiology Commons, Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Data Science Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Oncology Commons
