@Article{info:doi/10.2196/jmir.2756,
author="Khosropour, Christine M
and Johnson, Brent A
and Ricca, Alexandra V
and Sullivan, Patrick S",
title="Enhancing Retention of an Internet-Based Cohort Study of Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) via Text Messaging:  Randomized Controlled Trial ",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2013",
month="Aug",
day="27",
volume="15",
number="8",
pages="e194",
keywords="HIV infections/prevention and control; prospective studies; Internet/organization and administration; SMS text messaging; homosexuality; male/statistics and numerical data",
abstract="Background: Black and Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. The Internet is a promising vehicle for delivery of HIV prevention interventions to these men, but retention of MSM of color in longitudinal Internet-based studies has been problematic. Text message follow-up may enhance retention in these studies. Objective: To compare retention in a 12-month prospective Internet-based study of HIV-negative MSM randomized to receive bimonthly follow-up surveys either through an Internet browser online or through text messages. Methods: Internet-using MSM were recruited through banner advertisements on social networking and Internet-dating sites. White, black, and Hispanic men who were ≥18, completed an online baseline survey, and returned an at-home HIV test kit, which tested HIV negative, were eligible. Men were randomized to receive follow-up surveys every 2 months on the Internet or by text message for 12 months (unblinded). We used time-to-event methods to compare the rate of loss-to-follow-up (defined as non-response to a follow-up survey after multiple systematically-delivered contact attempts) in the 2 follow-up groups, overall and by race/ethnicity. Results are reported as hazard ratios (HR) and 95{\%} confidence intervals (CI) of the rate of loss-to-follow-up for men randomized to text message follow-up compared to online follow-up. Results: Of 1489 eligible and consenting men who started the online baseline survey, 895 (60{\%}) completed the survey and were sent an at-home HIV test kit. Of these, 710 of the 895 (79{\%}) returned the at-home HIV test kit, tested HIV-negative, and were followed prospectively. The study cohort comprised 66{\%} white men (470/710), 15{\%} (106/710) black men, and 19{\%} (134/710) Hispanic men. At 12 months, 77{\%} (282/366) of men randomized to online follow-up were retained in the study, compared to 70{\%} (241/344) men randomized to text message follow-up (HR=1.30, 95{\%} CI 0.97-1.73). The rate of loss-to-follow-up was non-significantly higher in the text message arm compared to the online arm for both white (HR=1.43, 95{\%} CI 0.97-1.73) and Hispanic men (HR=1.71, 95{\%} CI 0.91-3.23); however, loss-to-follow-up among black men was non-significantly lower among those who received text message follow-up compared to online follow-up (HR=0.78, 95{\%} CI 0.41-1.50). In the online arm, black men were significantly more likely to be lost to follow-up compared to white men (HR=2.25, 95{\%} CI 1.36-3.71), but this was not the case in the text message arm (HR=1.23, 95{\%} CI 0.70-2.16). Conclusions: We retained >70{\%} of MSM enrolled in an online study for 12 months; thus, engaging men in online studies for a sufficient time to assess sustained outcomes is possible. Text message follow-up of an online cohort of MSM is feasible, and may result in higher retention among black MSM. ",
issn="14388871",
doi="10.2196/jmir.2756",
url="http://www.jmir.org/2013/8/e194/",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2756",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23981905"
}