Patient Portals as Highly Acceptable Tools to Support HIV Preventative Behaviors Among Adolescent and Young Sexual Minority Men

• Authors: Kevon-Mark Jackman, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Carl A Latkin, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Jessica L Maksut, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Maria E Trent, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Travis Sanchez, Emory University; Stefan D Baral, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Journal Title: Journal of Adolescent Health
• Volume: Volume 67, Number 2
• Publisher: Elsevier Inc | 2020-08-01, Pages 278-281
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.03.029
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology
• Keywords: HIV; Health IT; Sexual minority men (SMM); Sexually transmitted infections (STIs); Youth; Adolescent; Cross-Sectional Studies; HIV Infections; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Patient Portals; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present perceptions about using patient portals to manage HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) test results and to communicate with sexual partners among a 2018 nationwide sample of adolescent and young sexual minority men (YSMM) aged 15–25 years. Methods: Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted on cross-sectional online survey data. Results: Participants gave high or moderate value to portals that provide tips for sexual health (95.1% [1,168/1,228]), ability to locate HIV/STI testing centers (96.9% [1,190/1,228]), and ability to order home-based HIV/STI testing (96% [1,179/1,228]). Perceived health engagement and dyadic communication benefits of use were sustained at or above 94%. YSMM with a history of HIV/STI diagnosis were less willing to share online results with main (93% vs. 97%; Χ2 = 5.13; p =.02) and nonmain (70% vs. 77%; Χ2 = 5.17; p =.02) sexual partners. Conclusions: Patient portals represent highly acceptable spaces to deliver comprehensive sexual health services and could support communication on HIV/STI testing with sex partners among YSMM.