Optimizing an App-Based Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention for Stimulant Use Among Sexual Minority Men Living with...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Interventions
• Intervention Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Sexual minority men (SMM) face disproportionate HIV rates and unique stressors.
• Stress impacts HIV progression and transmission risk behaviors like substance use.
• App-based positive affect interventions show promise for managing stress in chronic illness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To iteratively tailor an app-based positive affect intervention (TeaTime) for substance-using SMM living with HIV (SUSMM-LWH).
• To employ a community-engaged, multiphase optimization strategy for intervention refinement.
• To reduce stress and improve health outcomes among SUSMM-LWH.

Main Methods:

• Phase 1: Open-phase pilot of an app-based ecological momentary intervention (EMI) with 10 SUSMM-LWH.
• Community advisory board collaboration for tailoring content and app design.
• Phase 2: Pilot factorial optimization trial randomizing 80 SUSMM-LWH to assess new features (craving prompts, smartwatch integration).

Main Results:

• Phase 1 data collection completed (December 2023).
• Phase 2 data collection ongoing (July 2024 - August 2025).
• Results from Phase 1 expected for publication by December 2025.

Conclusions:

• Combines social science, intervention science, and software development for an optimized EMI.
• Findings will facilitate a fully optimized intervention ready for evaluation and implementation.
• Future trials will utilize ecological momentary assessment for efficacy data.