Intervention IP-092: Keep It Up (KIU)! eHealth HIV Risk Reduction Intervention

Summary

The intervention Keep It Up (KIU)! was designed to reduce condomless anal sex acts and sexually transmitted infections among young men who have sex with men. The intervention is an interactive online multimedia HIV prevention project that was conducted in 5 major US cities. The multimedia addresses HIV knowledge, importance of HIV testing, and skills for negotiating condom use within relationships. The intervention produced significant decreases in condomless anal sex acts with casual male partners and sexually transmitted infections 12 months post-intervention.

Overview

Intervention Details

Intervention was Primarily Driven, Led, or Managed by:

Both Community and Academic/Clinical Researchers

Citations:

  • Mustanski B, Parsons JT, Sullivan PS, Madkins K, Rosenberg E, Swann G. Biomedical and Behavioral Outcomes of Keep It Up!: An eHealth HIV Prevention Program RCT. American journal of preventive medicine. 2018 Aug;55(2):151-158. Epub 2018 Jun 28. PubMedExternal Web Site Policy PubMed CentralExternal Web Site Policy DOIExternal Web Site Policy
    Relevance: Post-Intervention Outcomes, Main Intervention
  • Greene GJ, Madkins K, Andrews K, Dispenza J, Mustanski B. Implementation and Evaluation of the Keep It Up! Online HIV Prevention Intervention in a Community-Based Setting. AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education. 2016 Jun;28(3):231-45. PubMedExternal Web Site Policy DOIExternal Web Site Policy
    Relevance: Evaluations and Assessments
  • Mustanski B, Saber R, Jones JP, Macapagal K, Benbow N, Li DH, Brown CH, Janulis P, Smith JD, Marsh E, Schackman BR, Linas BP, Madkins K, Swann G, Dean A, Bettin E, Savinkina A. Keep It Up! 3.0: Study protocol for a type III hybrid implementation-effectiveness cluster-randomized trial. Contemporary clinical trials. 2023 Apr;127:107134. Epub 2023 Feb 24. PubMedExternal Web Site Policy PubMed CentralExternal Web Site Policy DOIExternal Web Site Policy
    Relevance: Evaluations and Assessments
Adaptation of Another Research-based Intervention:

No

Contact Information

Primary Contact Name:

Brian Mustanski

Primary Contact Affiliation:

Northwestern University

Intervention URL:

https://kiu.northwestern.edu/

Primary Contact Email:

brian@northwestern.edu

Primary Contact Phone Number:

312-503-5421

Results

Evaluations and Assessments

Were Any of the Following Assessments Conducted (Economic Evaluation, Needs Assessment, Process Evaluation)?:

Yes

  • Economic Evaluation: We used a mixed methods micro-costing approach to assess KIU! expenses. Structured interviews and expense reports identified three categories of expenditure: start-up, variable, and time dependent. We estimated wages and material costs from staff reports and Bureau of Labor Statistics data. After quantifying and valuing all resources, we multiplied costs and unit utilization to derive cumulative cost of resource consumption. Sensitivity and post hoc analyses addressed bias and cost predictors.

  • Needs Assessment: The results of the needs assessment found in our article, “Internet use and sexual health of young men who have sex with men: a mixed-methods study” - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-009-9596-1, suggested that the Internet fills an important and unmet need for sexual health education for young men who have sex with men (YMSM).

Demographic and Implementation Description

Socio-demographics / Population Characteristics

Community Type:

Suburban, Urban / Inner City

Other Populations with Health Disparities:

None

Gender Identity:

Male

Sexual Orientation:

Bisexual, Gay

Geographic Location:

All U.S. States

Socio-Economic Status:

Unspecified

Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework

Levels of Influence
Individual Interpersonal Community Societal
Determinant Types Biological
Behavioral
Physical / Built Environment
Sociocultural Environment
Health Care System

Community Involvement

The community's role in different areas of the Intervention (Choices are "No Role", "Participation", and "Leadership"):

Design:

Leadership

Dissemination:

Participation

Evaluation:

Participation

Implementation:

Participation

Outreach:

Participation

Planning :

Participation

Recruitment:

Participation

Sustainability:

Participation

Characteristics and Implementation

Conceptual Framework

Intervention Theory:

Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model of Change

Intervention Framework:

IM-ADAPT (Intervention Mapping – Adapt) for KIU! 3.0

Implementation

Intervention Study Design:

Individual Randomized Controlled Trial/Comparative (requires random assignment, a control/comparison group, and pre and post intervention outcome assessments), Pilot, feasibility, or demonstration study design

Targeted Intervention Sample Size:

901

Actual Intervention Sample Size:

901

Start Year:

2013

End Year:

2017

Intervention Exposures

Duration of Intervention/How Long it Lasted:

4-6 months

Frequency of Intervention Delivery:

5 total sessions including 2 booster sessions

Number of Sessions/Meetings/Visits/Interactions:

5-6 Sessions

Average Length of Each Session/Meeting/Visit/Interaction:

1-2 Hours

Format of Delivery:

Individual

Highest Reading Level of Intervention Materials Provided to Participants:

Grade 8-9

Impact, Lessons, Components

Intervention Impact:

Some CBOs were able to connect more with participants about various services that they provided because of our intervention. We integrated service forms throughout the intervention in KIU! 3.0 and participants were made aware of services that the CBOs can offer them related to the content that was just provided to the participants. Depending on what the CBOs select, some service forms were informational whereas others triggered a notification to the CBO that the participant was interested in a specific service that they offered.

Lessons Learned

Key Lessons Learned and/or Things That Could be Changed or Done Differently:

Our findings from implementation in CBO settings illustrated the importance of compelling messaging highlighting benefits to participating in KIU!, CBO staff monitoring participant completion of KIU!, and sending routine reminders as needed to participants.

Insights Gained During Implementation

Insight Category Insight Description
Cost of Implementing or Sustaining Paying participants sufficiently to incentivize complete the intervention is highly preferred and may be cost-saving compared to other efforts that require more staff time. Additionally, CBOs need to be paid sufficiently to properly staff the intervention.
Logistics The time between intervention modules was reduced.
Administrative Resources CBOs can benefit from having structured To-Do lists for participant retention.
Training / Technical Assistance Implementation would benefit from continued and personalized technical assistance for CBOs and availability of on-going training for new staff.
Staffing It is recommended to hire people from the community being served.
Recruitment It is recommended not to be too restrictive with eligibility criteria and aim to allow as many people as possible into the program if it addresses client’s needs.

Intervention Components

Intervention Has Multiple Components:

Yes

Assessed Each Unique Contribution:

No

Products, Materials, and Funding

Product/Material/Tools

Tailored For Language Language(s) if other than English Material
Outreach/Recruitment Tools

Implementation Guide

No

https://kiu.northwestern.edu/deliver/ 
Participant Educational Tools

Implementation Guide

No

https://kiu.northwestern.edu/deliver/ 
Measurement Tools

Implementation Guide

No

https://kiu.northwestern.edu/deliver/ 

Implementation Materials and Products

Material
Implementation/Delivery Materials

Intervention implementation guidelines

https://kiu.northwestern.edu/deliver/ 
Implementation/Output Materials

Websites (include URL/link)

https://kiu.northwestern.edu/deliver/ 

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