Systematic review of electronically delivered behavioral obesity prevention interventions targeting men

Globally, obesity persists at epidemic rates. Men are underrepresented within behavior-based obesity prevention research. As men prefer individualized, self-guided interventions, electronic delivery of treatment modalities has potential to reach this population. The purpose of this study was to systematically review primary, secondary, or tertiary behavioral obesity prevention interventions that used controlled designs; targeted men; and incorporated at least one electronically delivered treatment modality explicitly designed to elicit an intervention effect. Literature searches were delimited to peer-reviewed articles; published between 2000 and 2021; in the English language; and indexed in PsycINFO, CINHAL, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and WOS electronic databases. Interventions satisfying inclusion criteria were critiqued for methodological quality using the Jadad Scale (0 = lowest quality; 10 = highest quality). Eleven studies satisfied the inclusion criteria (n = 1748; total participants) with five reporting group-by-time intervention effects on the primary variable targeted. Jadad scale quality assessment scores ranged from 5.00 to 9.00 with a mean of 7.72. Majority of the interventions applied a randomized control trial design (n = 10). Most interventions were theory based, with eight rooted in social cognitive theory. Behavior change strategies included self-monitoring (n = 10), personalized feedback (n = 8), health counseling (n = 8), and goal setting (n = 9). Community-level theories have the potential to guide future obesity prevention interventions targeting men.

Correlates of PrEP Uptake Among Young Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women in New York City: The Need to Reframe "Risk" Messaging and Normalize Preventative Health

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective form of HIV prevention, but young sexual minority men face myriad barriers to PrEP uptake. Participants (n = 202) completed a survey on healthcare experiences and beliefs about HIV and PrEP. While 98% of the sample knew about PrEP, only 23.2% reported currently taking PrEP. Participants were more likely to be taking PrEP if they received PrEP information from a healthcare provider and endorsed STI-related risk compensation. Conversely, PrEP uptake was less likely among those with concerns about medication use and adherence. While there were no racial/ethnic differences in PrEP uptake, there were differences in correlates of PrEP use for White participants and participants of color. To facilitate PrEP uptake, clinicians should provide PrEP education and screen all patients for PrEP candidacy. Additionally, public health messaging must reframe HIV "risk", highlight benefits of STI testing, and emphasize the importance of preventive healthcare for SMM.

"Worn out": Coping strategies for managing antiretroviral treatment fatigue among urban people of color living with HIV who were recently disengaged from outpatient HIV care

Antiretroviral-related treatment fatigue is inconsistently defined in the literature on barriers to ART adherence. Research suggests that treatment fatigue is a salient challenge for people struggling with antiretroviral therapy adherence, but little is known about how people living with HIV attempt to manage this fatigue. Twenty-seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with low-income people of color living with HIV in NYC that were currently, or recently, disengaged from HIV care. The findings from this exploratory study suggest that treatment fatigue was common and that participants devised personal strategies to overcome it. These strategies included using reminder programs, requesting weekly rather than monthly pill quantities, and taking "pill holidays". The varied nature- and varying levels of effectiveness- of these strategies highlight the need for specific programming to provide tailored support. Future research should examine treatment fatigue as a specific subtype of adherence challenge, and aim to define pill fatigue clearly.