K43TW012850
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Adapting an evidence-based intervention to improve HIV testing and PrEP uptake among young men who have sex with men in Vietnam - Project summary
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are experiencing an ongoing HIV epidemic in Vietnam, with an HIV prevalence of 12%.
However, HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among YMSM remain low.
To improve HIV testing and PrEP use, mobile health (mHealth) interventions hold great promise to reach YMSM in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
HealthMindr, an evidence-based mHealth intervention developed in the United States for men who have sex with men, is an ideal option for adaptation for YMSM in Vietnam.
I propose to adapt this app and explore barriers and facilitators of implementing the app among YMSM in Vietnam.
The specific aims are to (1) adapt the HealthMindr app to improve HIV testing and PrEP uptake among YMSM in Vietnam; (2) examine acceptability, feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the adapted app among YMSM in Vietnam; and (3) explore barriers and facilitators of implementing the adapted app among YMSM in Vietnam.
In Aim 1, theater testing will be conducted through focus group discussions with YMSM and key other stakeholders, including health officials, clinic staff and community-based organizations.
Theater testing data will be used to refine the app for beta testing.
During beta testing, a small group of YMSM will use the app for 30 days, then complete an online survey and an exit interview to rate the app’s usability, provide their perspectives of the app and report any other areas for improvement.
App analytics will also be collected to understand whether and how the app is used.
In Aim 2, the adapted app will be tested among YMSM through a randomized controlled design.
YMSM will be randomized into the intervention or control arm (1:1 ratio).
The intervention arm will have full access to the app for 3 months, while the control group will receive standard-of-care HIV services.
Key app features include HIV test planning, risk and PrEP eligibility assessment, ordering of free condoms and HIV test kits, information about PrEP, and PrEP provider and HIV testing locations.
HIV testing and PrEP use will be assessed at baseline and 3 months and compared between groups.
A mixed methods approach will be used to evaluate app acceptability and feasibility.
Quantitative data on acceptability and feasibility will be collected through the 3-month online survey, while qualitative data will be collected through in-depth interviews with a subset of YMSM in the intervention arm and other key stakeholders.
In Aim 3, through the same qualitative study as Aim 2, factors that influence the implementation of the app will be explored.
Determinants from seven domains will be identified: condition, technology, value proposition, adopter system, health organization, wider system and embedding/adaption over time.
Only when mHealth interventions are both effective and adopted can they maximize their potential to reduce HIV incidence among target populations.
This proposal will generate data for designing a full-scale hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial to test the adapted app and identify implementation strategies to address the barriers of app implementation in LMICs.
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are experiencing an ongoing HIV epidemic in Vietnam, with an HIV prevalence of 12%.
However, HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among YMSM remain low.
To improve HIV testing and PrEP use, mobile health (mHealth) interventions hold great promise to reach YMSM in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
HealthMindr, an evidence-based mHealth intervention developed in the United States for men who have sex with men, is an ideal option for adaptation for YMSM in Vietnam.
I propose to adapt this app and explore barriers and facilitators of implementing the app among YMSM in Vietnam.
The specific aims are to (1) adapt the HealthMindr app to improve HIV testing and PrEP uptake among YMSM in Vietnam; (2) examine acceptability, feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the adapted app among YMSM in Vietnam; and (3) explore barriers and facilitators of implementing the adapted app among YMSM in Vietnam.
In Aim 1, theater testing will be conducted through focus group discussions with YMSM and key other stakeholders, including health officials, clinic staff and community-based organizations.
Theater testing data will be used to refine the app for beta testing.
During beta testing, a small group of YMSM will use the app for 30 days, then complete an online survey and an exit interview to rate the app’s usability, provide their perspectives of the app and report any other areas for improvement.
App analytics will also be collected to understand whether and how the app is used.
In Aim 2, the adapted app will be tested among YMSM through a randomized controlled design.
YMSM will be randomized into the intervention or control arm (1:1 ratio).
The intervention arm will have full access to the app for 3 months, while the control group will receive standard-of-care HIV services.
Key app features include HIV test planning, risk and PrEP eligibility assessment, ordering of free condoms and HIV test kits, information about PrEP, and PrEP provider and HIV testing locations.
HIV testing and PrEP use will be assessed at baseline and 3 months and compared between groups.
A mixed methods approach will be used to evaluate app acceptability and feasibility.
Quantitative data on acceptability and feasibility will be collected through the 3-month online survey, while qualitative data will be collected through in-depth interviews with a subset of YMSM in the intervention arm and other key stakeholders.
In Aim 3, through the same qualitative study as Aim 2, factors that influence the implementation of the app will be explored.
Determinants from seven domains will be identified: condition, technology, value proposition, adopter system, health organization, wider system and embedding/adaption over time.
Only when mHealth interventions are both effective and adopted can they maximize their potential to reduce HIV incidence among target populations.
This proposal will generate data for designing a full-scale hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial to test the adapted app and identify implementation strategies to address the barriers of app implementation in LMICs.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE JOHN E. FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER (FIC) SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING TO REDUCE DISPARITIES IN GLOBAL HEALTH AND TO FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN U.S. SCIENTISTS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS ABROAD. FIC SUPPORTS BASIC BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, AS WELL AS RELATED RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. THE RESEARCH PORTFOLIO IS DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF FUNDING MECHANISMS TO MEET PROGRAMMATIC OBJECTIVES.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Vietnam
Geographic Scope
Foreign
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 08/31/29 to 11/30/29 and the total obligations have increased 102% from $66,427 to $134,406.
Hanoi Medical University was awarded
Adapting HealthMindr for YMSM in Vietnam
Project Grant K43TW012850
worth $134,406
from Fogarty International Center in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Vietnam.
The grant
has a duration of 5 years 2 months and
was awarded through assistance program 93.989 International Research and Research Training.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 12/19/25
Period of Performance
9/1/24
Start Date
11/30/29
End Date
Funding Split
$134.4K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$134.4K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to K43TW012850
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
K43TW012850
SAI Number
K43TW012850-1769125421
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Non-Domestic (Non-U.S.) Entity
Awarding Office
75NF00 NIH Fogarty International Center
Funding Office
75NF00 NIH Fogarty International Center
Awardee UEI
PKMEKZPKJCG9
Awardee CAGE
SPT40
Performance District
Not Applicable
Modified: 12/19/25