Study Procedures for My Space

• The My Space project will utilize a nested longitudinal design with randomized controls to promote HIV prevention on My Space

• First, identify 30 discrete social networks on My Space

• Then, randomly assign networks to intervention or control status– Intervention: Sexuality information and education– Control: Nutrition information and education

Study Procedures for My Space

• All participants complete a baseline risk assessment for HIV and nutrition behaviors

• “Just/Us” Nutrition will have content on eating, portion size, fats, sugars, etc.

• “Just/Us” HIV will have content on puberty, sexual orientation, partner violence, condom norms, self-efficacy, intentions for condom use

• Both pages (intervention and control) will emphasize user-driven content and social support

Study Procedures for My Space

• Identification of 30 discrete networks

• First—what are the “hot spots” for HIV?– Top 25 MSA’s for HIV/AIDS cases– Top 25 MSA’s for CT, GC, Syphilis

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Study Procedures for My Space

• Once enrolled, participants in “Just/Us” HIV prevention will be able to– Post blogs or vlogs in response to content on

sexuality education (updated weekly)– Post a testimonial (e.g. why and where I got tested for

HIV)– Take quick quizzes on a weekly topic– View an animated cartoon series– Ask an expert a question that all can see– Start threaded discussions about a topic

Study Procedures for My Space

• At six weeks, three months and six months we will ask participants to return to the site and take follow-up assessments

• Analysis will include hierarchical modeling—network is the unit of analysis, and position and number of ties will be considered as IV’s along with other more “standard” individual level variables