Get Connected: Linking YMSM to Adequate Care through a Multilevel, Tailored WebApp Intervention

Get Connected (GC) was a WebApp that motivated YMSM to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and to use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Participants were randomly placed in one of two conditions. The first condition, included the full version of GC, which included content tailored to users’ demographic characteristics (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, relationship status), HIV/STI prevention behaviors (e.g., HIV/STI testing history) and sociocultural context (e.g., homelessness, incarceration). The second condition, called the control, only included the GC testing locator (TLO). Participants were recruited from three cities characterized by high HIV incidence, and followed over 12 months. Assessments were collected at 30 days and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 month follow-up.

We tested the efficacy of GC for increasing HIV-negative or HIV-unknown YMSM's successful uptake of HIV prevention services (e.g., routine HIV/STI testing) and PrEP awareness and willingness, as compared to the attention-control condition over a 12-month period. We found both versions of GC were efficacious in increasing routine HIV and STI testing over a 12-month period. Regional differences were observed. HIV/STI testing was higher among the GC version in multi-site, whereas the TLO encouraged greater HIV/STI testing in multi-site. No differences between conditions were noted for multi-site. PrEP uptake was similar across both versions of the GC WebApp.