Effects of Messaging About Multiple Biomedical and Behavioral HIV Prevention Methods on Intentions to use Among US MSM: Results of an Experimental Messaging Study

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Brian Mustanski, Northwestern University; Daniel T. Ryan, Northwestern University; Travis Sanchez, Emory University; Craig Sineath, Emory University; Kathryn Macapagal, Northwestern University; Patrick Sullivan, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-09-01
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0811-2
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: AIDS and Behavior
• ISSN: 1090-7165
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 9
• Start Page: 1651
• End Page: 1660
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was facilitated by the Center for AIDS Research at Emory University (P30 AI050409).
• Keywords: Pre-exposure prophylaxis; Social Sciences, Biomedical; TRIAL; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; CHALLENGES; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; HIV prevention; POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS; UNITED-STATES; Condoms; INFECTION; Post-exposure prophylaxis; Social Sciences; Health communication; PREEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS; MEN; Biomedical Social Sciences; Science & Technology; EXPOSURE; Rectal microbicides; SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOR; CONDOM USE
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Combining multiple biomedical and behavioral HIV prevention approaches is a priority for at-risk populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), and it is essential to understand how receiving messages about multiple approaches impacts attitudes and intentions for their use. We examined whether receiving combinations of different HIV prevention messages produced differences in perceived benefits and costs of condom use, and in intentions to use condoms and biomedical prevention approaches. MSM (N = 803) were recruited online and were randomly assigned to view informational messages about one, two, or four of the following prevention options: pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP), rectal microbicides, and condoms. The number of HIV prevention messages did not produce differential attitudes and intentions regarding condoms, nor did it produce changes in attitudes towards unprotected sex. Receiving multiple messages was associated with greater intentions to use PrEP and nPEP, but not rectal microbicides.