A Mobile Application to Collect Daily Data on Preexposure Prophylaxis Adherence and Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Use Over Time and Comparability With Conventional Data Collection

Amsterdam PrEP Project Team in the HIV Transmission Elimination Amsterdam Initiative (H-TEAM)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We studied the use of a mobile application (app) to measure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence and sexual behavior, assessed determinants of app use, and we compared data in app and questionnaires.

METHODS: Men who have sex with men participating in the Amsterdam PrEP project (AMPrEP) on daily or event-driven PrEP at the Public Health Service of Amsterdam completed the data on sexual risk behavior and PrEP adherence through a standard questionnaire every 3 months and on a daily basis using the project's app. Regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with app use. Among those who reported 90% or greater of data in the app, the number of PrEP pills taken and number of unknown casual sex partners were compared between the app and the questionnaires by Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS: Of all participants (n = 374), 94% (352 of 374) reported data in the app at least once; 72% (261 of 362) reported data ≥90% of the days in the sixth month and 62% (222 of 359) in the 12th month following PrEP initiation.Factors associated with reporting data in the app were using daily PrEP and recent initiation of PrEP. The reported numbers of pills taken and unknown sexual partners were comparable between app and questionnaires.

CONCLUSIONS: The AMPrEP app was used frequently, especially by those using a daily PrEP regimen. Data collected by app regarding adherence and sexual risk behavior were consistent with questionnaire data among those who used the app consistently. An app is a promising tool to measure PrEP adherence and sexual risk behavior.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)400-406
Number of pages7
JournalSexually transmitted diseases
Volume46
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2019

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Data Collection/methods
  • HIV Infections/prevention & control
  • Homosexuality, Male
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence/statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Mobile Applications
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis/statistics & numerical data
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Cite this