This document summarizes the beta test results of an mHealth HIV prevention program called Guy2Guy for sexual minority adolescent males. Eighteen participants were randomized into an intervention or control group and received program messages for 5 weeks. Participants provided positive feedback on the program content, features like the Text Buddy, and timing of messages. Participants in the intervention group sent more Text Buddy messages and accessed the program feature G2Genie more than those in the control group. The beta test provided an opportunity to gather feedback and make improvements before conducting a larger randomized controlled trial of the program.

1. 22nd Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health
Singapore, July 26, 2015
Beta test results of Guy2Guy: an mHealth HIV
prevention program for sexual minority
adolescent males
Tonya L. Prescott BA1
Gregory L. Phillips II PhD2
Sheana S. Bull PhD3
Jeffrey T. Parsons PhD4
Brian Mustanski PhD2
Michele L. Ybarra MPH PhD1
1 Center for Innovative Public Health Research, San Clemente,
California, USA
2 Impact Program, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois,
USA
3 Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado
Denver, Aurora, CA, USA
4 Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY,
USA
* Thank you for your interest in this presentation. Please note that analyses included herein are
preliminary. More recent, finalized analyses may be available by contacting CiPHR.

2. Beta test: Aims
 Test protocol
 Software program
functionality
(e.g., randomization
code)
 Confirm program
acceptability (e.g., content, Text Buddy, G2Genie)

3. Methods
 Eighteen GBQ adolescent males were enrolled and
randomized into the intervention or attention-matched
control group
 Received 5 weeks of program messages
 All participants, irrespective of study group, were
matched with a Text Buddy and had access to
G2Genie
 Brief weekly surveys sent to participants to gain
feedback about that week’s experience with messages

4. Participant Experiences
 Participants generally provided positive feedback to
the program content, features, and timing of
messages.
“I like how they [the messages] are written. Not too
personal or lecturing. Seems one-on-one. Doesn't
seem like a computer sometimes, seems like it could
be an actual person.” – 15 yr old
“I love the buddy texting. It's nice to have someone
to talk to when you're bored, in need of advice, or
when you just want to talk to a friend.” – 14 yr old

5. Program Feature Acceptability
211
28
17
3
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
# Text buddy messages sent (average) # G2Genie messages (average)
Sexually Inexperienced
Sexually Experienced
n=XX n=XX
Range: 0-75
Range: 0-359

6. Conclusions
 The Guy2Guy beta test provided an opportunity to gather
feedback and implement final program improvements before
the RCT.
 Small-scale tests are critical to identify and problem solve
technological issues before the more cost-intensive RCT
implementation.

7. Thank you!
For more information, please contact:
Tonya Prescott
tonya@innovativepublichealth.org