Exploration of Implementation Patterns and Content from a Text-Based Outreach Intervention Clinical Trial for Newly Diagnosed, HIV-Positive MSM in Beijing, China.

Abstract

The Multi-component HIV Intervention Packages for Chinese MSM (China MP3) project sought to facilitate engagement in care and initiation of antiretroviral therapy among newly HIV-diagnosed men who have sex with men in Beijing, China through the implementation of in-person peer-counseling (PC) and a weekly short message service (SMS)-based outreach text with as-needed follow-up during the first 12-months of living with HIV. Implementation of the interactive text-based intervention used a 'ticket system' to monitor and document responses to texted check-ins and PC follow-up. Using this tracking system, we characterized the 1521 tickets generated during the China-MP3 intervention across 184 intervention participants. A wide variety of topics were the focus of interactions prompted by texted outreach although most appeared to focus on issues related to ART and CD4 and viral load. Almost all participants engaged in at least one SMS-related discussion. Sending regular check-ins may offer unique opportunities to newly diagnosed MSM to ask questions or gather support between face-to-face visits.