William Brown1,2,3,4, Javier Lopez Rios4,5, Alan Sheinfil6, Timothy Frasca4, Catherine Cruz Torres7, Raynier Crespo7, Curtis Dolezal4, Rebecca Giguere4, Cody Lentz4, Iván C Balán4, Christine Tagliaferri Rael4, Irma Febo7, Alex Carballo-Diéguez4. 1. Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. 2. Center for Vulnerable Populations at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. 3. Bakar Computational Health Science Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. 4. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Division of Gender, Sexuality and Health, NY State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY. 5. Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, NY. 6. Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. 7. Department of Pediatrics, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Hurricanes can interrupt communication, exacerbate attrition, and disrupt participant engagement in research. We used text messaging and disaster preparedness protocols to re-establish communication, re-engage participants, and ensure retention in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-test study. METHODS: Participants were given HIV home test kits to test themselves and/or their non-monogamous sexual partners before intercourse. A daily text message-based short message service computer-assisted self-interview (SMS-CASI) tool reminded them to report 3 variables: (1) anal sex without a condom, (2) knowledge of partners' testing history, and (3) proof of partners' testing history. A disaster preparedness protocol was put in place for hurricanes in Puerto Rico. We analyzed 6315 messages from participants (N = 12) active at the time of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Disaster preparedness narratives were assessed. RESULTS: All participants were able to communicate sexual behavior and HIV testing via SMS-CASI within 30 days following María. Some participants (n = 5, 42%) also communicated questions. Re-engagement within 30 days after the hurricane was 100% (second week/89%, third week/100%). Participant re-engagement ranged from 0-16 days (average = 6.4 days). Retention was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Daily SMS-CASI and disaster preparedness protocols helped participant engagement and communication after 2 hurricanes. SMS-CASI responses indicated high participant re-engagement, retention, and well-being.
OBJECTIVE: Hurricanes can interrupt communication, exacerbate attrition, and disrupt participant engagement in research. We used text messaging and disaster preparedness protocols to re-establish communication, re-engage participants, and ensure retention in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-test study. METHODS:Participants were given HIV home test kits to test themselves and/or their non-monogamous sexual partners before intercourse. A daily text message-based short message service computer-assisted self-interview (SMS-CASI) tool reminded them to report 3 variables: (1) anal sex without a condom, (2) knowledge of partners' testing history, and (3) proof of partners' testing history. A disaster preparedness protocol was put in place for hurricanes in Puerto Rico. We analyzed 6315 messages from participants (N = 12) active at the time of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Disaster preparedness narratives were assessed. RESULTS: All participants were able to communicate sexual behavior and HIV testing via SMS-CASI within 30 days following María. Some participants (n = 5, 42%) also communicated questions. Re-engagement within 30 days after the hurricane was 100% (second week/89%, third week/100%). Participant re-engagement ranged from 0-16 days (average = 6.4 days). Retention was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Daily SMS-CASI and disaster preparedness protocols helped participant engagement and communication after 2 hurricanes. SMS-CASI responses indicated high participant re-engagement, retention, and well-being.
Authors: Francisco Cartujano-Barrera; Cristina I Peña-Vargas; Evelyn Arana-Chicas; José G Pérez-Ramos; Josiemer Mattei; Alejandra Hurtado-de-Mendoza; Rosario Costas-Muñiz; Julio Jiménez; Ana Paula Cupertino; Eida M Castro Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-03 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Madison McGuire; Anna de Waal; Angela Karellis; Ricky Janssen; Nora Engel; Rangarajan Sampath; Sergio Carmona; Alice Anne Zwerling; Marta Fernandez Suarez; Nitika Pant Pai Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2021-08-13
Authors: Vivian Colón-López; Olga L Díaz-Miranda; Diana T Medina-Laabes; Roxana Soto-Abreu; Idamaris Vega-Jimenez; Ana P Ortiz; Erick L Suárez Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2021-12-02 Impact factor: 3.452