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AIDS and Behavior
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 8/2021

01-08-2021 | Care | Original Paper

Epic Allies: A Gamified Mobile App to Improve Engagement in HIV Care and Antiretroviral Adherence among Young Men Who have Sex with Men

Authors: Lisa Hightow-Weidman, Kathryn E. Muessig, Joseph R. Egger, Alyssa Vecchio, Alyssa Platt

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 8/2021

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Abstract

HIV incidence among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) is disproportionally high. Youth living with HIV demonstrate low rates of sustained virologic suppression (VS). Epic Allies, a theory-based behavioral intervention mobile app, utilizes self-management tools, gamification, and social support to improve engagement in care and antiretroviral adherence among YMSM living with HIV. A two-arm individually randomized-controlled trial enrolled 146 participants aged 16 to 24 years old to test the efficacy of Epic Allies to achieve VS. Both study arms showed improved VS at 26-weeks (62.9% intervention; 73.5% control; ARR = 0.93 (95% CI 0.73, 1.18)) and antiretroviral adherence; intervention effects were amplified in regular app users. Issues with recruitment and app usage metrics limit the ability to definitively say that the app was effective in causing behavior changes resulting in improved health outcomes. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02782130).
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Metadata
Title
Epic Allies: A Gamified Mobile App to Improve Engagement in HIV Care and Antiretroviral Adherence among Young Men Who have Sex with Men
Authors
Lisa Hightow-Weidman
Kathryn E. Muessig
Joseph R. Egger
Alyssa Vecchio
Alyssa Platt
Publication date
01-08-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 8/2021
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-021-03222-y

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