Positive Peers Intervention Clinical Trial

Randomized Control Trial of Positive Peers mHealth App as a Clinic-based Intervention to Optimize HIV Outcomes Among Young, Minority Persons Living With HIV

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the Positive Peers mobile app intervention increases rates of viral suppression in young (13-34 y/o) persons with HIV.

Does use of the Positive Peers app improve viral suppression among young minority persons with HIV? What user characteristics are associated with a) viral suppression, b) retention in care, and c) perceived HIV-related stigma?

Participants will:

• download the mobile app onto their personal smartphone
• Use the mobile app as they find useful
• complete online surveys at enrollment, 3 mo, 6, mo, 9 mo and 12 months.

Participants will load the Positive Peers app on their personal device (either immediately or after a 6 month delay) and be encouraged to use the app regularly. Eligible patients who decline participation in the intervention will be asked to participate in an observational arm.

All participants will complete a brief baseline survey. Participants in the immediate or delayed arms will also complete surveys at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Medical data will be collected from the medical record and usage data will be collected from the app itself. Medical data will be collected for 12 months prior to enrollment and 18 months after enrollment. At the end of the study, participants are welcome to continue to use the app.

Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV+
• Identifies as either a racial, ethnic, sexual or gender minority or a cisgender female and

One of the following:

• Newly diagnosed within last 12 months
• Out of care (greater than 6 months between any two HIV provider visits in last 24 months)
• Not virally suppressed (any viral load > 200 copies in last 24 months)
• Has a working smartphone
• Functional English ability

Exclusion Criteria:

• prior use of Positive Peers mobile app