A community-based rapid assessment of HIV behavioural risk disparities within a large sample of gay men in southeastern USA: a comparison of African American, Latino and white men.

Because the southeastern USA is experiencing a disproportionate HIV infection rate compared to other regions of the country, we explored HIV behavioural risk disparities by race/ethnicity among self-identifying gay men. Conceived and implemented as a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study, this rapid assessment collected demographic and HIV risk-behaviour data from men in five gay bars in the northwestern part of the state of North Carolina, using an assessment available in English and Spanish. Of 719 participants, 34.8% reported inconsistent condom use during anal intercourse in the past three months, 11.4% reported ever having had a sexually transmitted disease (STD), 3.6% reported being HIV-seropositive and 26% reported illicit drug use during the past 30 days. Compared to white participants, African American/black and Hispanic/Latino participants were more likely to report inconsistent condom use during anal intercourse with multiple partners during the past three months. African American/black participants were more likely to report illicit drug use during the past 30 days. Hispanic/Latino participants were more likely to have never been tested for HIV. Rates of HIV risk behaviours among gay men remain high and racial/ethnic differences indicate the need for targeted and tailored prevention strategies.

Collecting behavioural data using the world wide web: considerations for researchers.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and describe advantages, challenges, and ethical considerations of web based behavioural data collection. METHODS: This discussion is based on the authors' experiences in survey development and study design, respondent recruitment, and internet research, and on the experiences of others as found in the literature. RESULTS: The advantages of using the world wide web to collect behavioural data include rapid access to numerous potential respondents and previously hidden populations, respondent openness and full participation, opportunities for student research, and reduced research costs. Challenges identified include issues related to sampling and sample representativeness, competition for the attention of respondents, and potential limitations resulting from the much cited "digital divide", literacy, and disability. Ethical considerations include anonymity and privacy, providing and substantiating informed consent, and potential risks of malfeasance. CONCLUSIONS: Computer mediated communications, including electronic mail, the world wide web, and interactive programs will play an ever increasing part in the future of behavioural science research. Justifiable concerns regarding the use of the world wide web in research exist, but as access to, and use of, the internet becomes more widely and representatively distributed globally, the world wide web will become more applicable. In fact, the world wide web may be the only research tool able to reach some previously hidden population subgroups. Furthermore, many of the criticisms of online data collection are common to other survey research methodologies.

Factors associated with testing for hepatitis C in an internet-recruited sample of men who have sex with men.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 4 million individuals in the United States (1.8%) have been infected with hepatitis C virus, yet few are aware of their infection. GOAL: To identify correlates associated with hepatitis C virus testing among a sample of men who have sex with men. STUDY DESIGN: Internet communications were used for solicitation and collection of data, using a 31-question survey. RESULTS: When the study was restricted to men who have sex with men in the United States (n = 381), 95% of the respondents (n = 361) reported at least one risk factor for hepatitis C virus transmission, 39% of these respondents (n = 140) reported having been tested for hepatitis C virus. Testing was associated with a history of nonsexual risk behavior, increased knowledge of the hepatitis C virus, and healthcare provider communication. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of at-risk respondents had not been tested. Interventions are needed to increase hepatitis C virus knowledge in the community of men who have sex with men, and to encourage providers to communicate about hepatitis to the men in this group who screen as high risk on the basis of their risk behaviors.

Correlates of hepatitis B vaccination in a high-risk population: an Internet sample.

PURPOSE: We sought to identify factors associated with hepatitis B virus vaccination, including knowledge and attitudes about hepatitis vaccination, and sexual and nonsexual risk behaviors among at-risk homosexual and bisexual men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Internet electronic communications were used to collect data from homosexual and bisexual men from the United States, using a 31-item online questionnaire accessible for 1 month. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) age of the 336 respondents was 38 +/- 11 years. Nearly 42% (142) reported at least one dose of vaccine; the remainder were completely unvaccinated. About 21% (n = 71) reported having no information about hepatitis. Approximately 72% (242) of respondents reported never using condoms during oral intercourse, and 26% (n = 87) reported using condoms during less than half of their episodes of anal intercourse. In multivariate analysis, variables associated with vaccination were younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.7 per 10-year increase in age; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59 to 0.84, P = 0.002), high level of knowledge about the vaccine (OR 1.4; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.83, P = 0.007), communication with a health-care provider about hepatitis (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.31 to 2.98, P = 0.006), and professional training that included hepatitis education (OR 2.77; 95% CI 1.7 to 4.5, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the need for health care providers to emphasize vaccine efficacy and safety, and to encourage high-risk patients to receive vaccination, particularly among men at high risk based on sexual and drug use behaviors.