Abstract
Introduction: HIV continues to be a major public health concern affecting 1.2 million people aged 13 and older living in the US as of 2019. Black MSM experience higher annual HIV incidence compared to other populations. If the current rate of incidence continues, an estimated 50% of Black MSM will acquire HIV in their lifetime. Therefore, supporting interventions and implementation strategies are needed to promote ART adherence and to decrease HIV disparities among Black MSM. The purpose of this study is to explore a mobile health technology, patient portals, as a potential supporting intervention to improve patient engagement and HIV-related health outcomes among Black MSM living with HIV. Aim 1 of the study is to explore the determinants of patient portal use among Black MSM living with HIV. Aim 2 is to identify implementation strategies to enhance patient portal use among Black MSM living with HIV as a supporting intervention for promoting scale up and dissemination of HIV treatments.
Methods: Aim 1 involved conducting in-depth, individual semi-structured interviews with 20 Black MSM living with HIV. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research 2.0, a determinants framework, was deductively applied to code and analyze data using directed content analysis. For Aim 2, an implementation strategy working group was convened to select the most appropriate and potential implementation strategies to overcome high prioritized barriers using The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change list of strategies.
Results: Determinants for using the patient portal were identified across four CFIR 2.0 domains and varied amongst the study population. The implementation strategy working group selected 12 implementation strategies to address identified determinants to using patient portals. The final results of the study are outlined in the Implementation Research Logic Model.
Discussion: Study findings suggested Black MSM living with HIV are informed of the advantages innovative mobile health technologies such as patient portals offer people living with HIV.