NCT04710901

UTECH: Machine Learning for HIV Prevention Among Substance Using GBMSM

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 388 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This project seeks to develop and test the acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of uTECH, a novel social media "big data" machine learning intervention for HIV-negative substance-using sexual and gender minority people who have sex with men that aims to reduce HIV transmission risk by integrating biomedical and behavioral risk reduction strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention and medication assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use harm reduction

Detailed description

The project will occur in two phases. In Phase 1, we will conduct qualitative interviews with gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) using an iterative user-centered design process, which will result in a refined version of the uTECH intervention. In Phase 2, we will conduct a comparative acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility trial with 330 individuals, who will be randomized to (1) receive the uTECH intervention and an existing, evidence-based motivational enhancement intervention for HIV risk and substance use prevention (YMHP) or (2) receive YMHP alone. uTECH is innovative in that it includes both core intervention modules and highly personalized intervention content based on participants' social media use. The tailored intervention content can be delivered via text message or Facebook messenger. This content relies on our previously developed machine learning algorithm, which helps participants understand their technology-use behavior in relation to HIV-risk and substance use.

Conditions

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• HIV Infections
• Implementation Science
• Substance Use
• MSM

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	uTECH + YMHP	uTECH intervention utilizes a machine learning algorithm that leverages baseline data, individual social media use patterns, and strategic opportunistic learning questions to "push" messages to participants that offer strategic content about biomedical and behavioral HIV prevention. In addition, participants in this arm will also receive the YMHP intervention, which provides a four-session, evidence-based Motivational Enhancement intervention developed as part of the Young Men's Health Project (YMHP) and delivered via Zoom. Participants complete the four-session intervention during the first three months of their enrollment in the study.
BEHAVIORAL	YMHP	YMHP intervention provides a four-session evidence-based Motivational Enhancement intervention developed as part of the Young Men's Health Project (YMHP) and delivered via Zoom. Participants complete the four-session intervention during the first three months of their enrollment in this study. Months 3-12 are inactive.
BEHAVIORAL	uTECH	uTECH intervention utilizes a machine learning algorithm that leverages baseline data, individual social media use patterns, and strategic opportunistic learning questions to "push" messages to participants that offer strategic content about biomedical and behavioral HIV prevention.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-11-24
• Primary completion: 2024-05-31
• Completion: 2024-05-31
• First posted: 2021-01-15
• Last updated: 2024-11-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States