Abstract
This article presents the development of a theory- and evidence-based Internet HIV-prevention program for Dutch men who have sex with men (MSM) they have met on the Internet. The program is based on a protocol called Intervention Mapping (IM), which includes six steps. In Step 1 of IM, we conducted a needs assessment. In Step 2 we established program objectives to get e-dating MSM to use condoms consistently. In Step 3 we translated theoretical methods into practical strategies. In Step 4 we integrated the strategies into an intervention called Gay Cruise in which virtual pursers introduced participants to the strategies. In Step 5 we discussed large-scale implementation. And in Step 6 we discussed process and effect evaluation. We conclude that IM can be a helpful tool for developing and improving Internet HIV-prevention interventions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartholomew, L. K., Parcel, G. S., Kok, G., & Gottlieb, N. H. (2001). Intervention Mapping: Designing theoryarid evidence-based health promotion programs. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
Bartholomew, L. K., Parcel, G. S., Kok, G., & Gottlieb, N. H. (2006). Planning health promotion programs; an Intervention Mapping approach. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Bickmore, T. (2003). Relational agents: Effecting change through human-computer relationships (Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003). Dissertation Abstracts International, 64, 1327.
Bolding, G., Davis, M., Hart, G., Sherr, L., & Elford, J. (2005). Gay men who look for sex on the Internet: Is there more HIV/STI risk with online partners? AIDS, 19, 961–968.
Bull, S. S., Lloyd, L., Rietmeijer, C., & McFarlane, M. (2004). Recruitment and retention of an online sample for an HIV-prevention intervention targeting men who have sex with men: The Smart Sex Quest Project. AIDS Care, 16, 931–943.
Cassel, J., & Bickmore, T. (2003). Negotiated collusion: Modeling social language and its relationship effects in intelligent agents. User Modeling and User Interaction, 13, 89–132.
Cassel, J., Bickmore, T., Campbell, L., Vilhjalmsson, H. Y., & Yan, H. (2001). More than just a pretty face: Conversational protocols and the affordances of embodiment. Knowledge Based Systems, 14, 55–64.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2003). Cases of HIV/AIDS and AIDS in the United States, 2003. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report (Vol. 15). Atlanta: Author.
Davidovich, U., De Wit, J. B. F., & Stroebe, W. (2004, July 11–16). The effect of an Internet intervention for promoting safe sex between steady male partners-Results and methodological implications of a longitudinal randomized control trial online. Paper presented at the 15th International AIDS Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.
Green, L. W., & Kreuter, M. W. (2005). Health program planning: An educational and ecological approach (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Hospers, H. J., Harterink, P., Kok, G., & de Zwart, O. (2005). A new meeting place: Chatting on the Internet, e-dating and sexual risk behavior among Dutch men who have sex with men. AIDS, 19, 1097–1101.
Hospers, H. J., Harterink, P., Van den Hoek, K., & Veenstra, J. (2002). Chatters on the Internet: A special group for HIV-prevention. AIDS Care, 14, 539–544.
Johnson, W. D., Hedges, L. V., & Diaz, R. M. (2002). Interventions to modify sexual risk behaviors for preventing HIV-infection in men who have sex with men. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4, Art. No. CD001230.
Kelly, J. A., & Kalichman, S. C. (2002). Behavioral research in HIV/AIDS primary and secondary prevention: Recent advances and future directions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 626–639.
Kok, G., Hospers, H. J., Harterink, P., & De Zwart, O. (2006). Social-cognitive determinants of HIV risktaking intentions among men who date men through the Internet. Unpublished manuscript, Maastricht University.
Kok, G., Schaalma, H. P., Ruiter, R. A. C., Brug, J., & Van Empelen, P. (2004). Intervention Mapping: A protocol for applying health psychology theory to prevention programmes. Journal of Health Psychology, 9, 85–98.
Mullen, P. D., Green, L. W., & Persinger, G. S. (1985). Clinical trials of patient education for chronic conditions: A comparative meta-analysis of intervention types. Preventive Medicine, 14, 753–781.
Stout, P. A., Villegas, J., & Kim, H. (2001). Enhancing learning through use of interactive tools on healthrelated websites. Health Education Research, 16, 721–733.
Strecher, V., Wang, C., Derry, H., Wildenhaus, K., & Johnson, C. (2002). Tailored interventions for multiple risk behaviors. Health Education Research, 17, 619–626.
Van Empelen, P., & Kok, G. (2006). Condom use in steady and casual sexual relationships: Planning, preparation, and willingness to take risks among adolescents. Psychology & Health, 21, 165–181.
Weerakon, P. (2003). E-learning in sexuality education. Medical Teacher, 25, 13–17.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kok, G., Harterink, P., Vriens, P. et al. The gay cruise: Developing a theory- and evidence-based Internet HIV-prevention intervention. Sex Res Soc Policy 3, 52–67 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1525/srsp.2006.3.2.52
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/srsp.2006.3.2.52