Using Smartphone Technology in HIV Prevention among On-Campus Residents

Victoria Foster *, Comfort Obi **, Lisa Smiley ***, Kimberly Campbell ****, Elicia S. Collins *****, Rebecca Morgan ******, Grace Nteff *******, Nancy Capponi ********, Leslie De Vera *********
*-******* Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia, United States.
******** Tanner Health System School of Nursing, University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia.
********* Flexcare Medical Staffing Agency in Roseville, California.
Periodicity:August - October'2020
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.10.3.17317

Abstract

It is estimated that 1 in 500 college students are HIV positive. In 2017, youths (age 13-24) were 21% (8,164) of the 38,739 new HIV diagnoses in the United States. Several prevention challenges are noted in the literature such as low perception of risks, low rates of testing and low rates of condom use. The purpose of this study is to explore new teaching modalities that may increase HIV prevention in this population. The study used a pretest/posttest design. The non-random sample included 35 college students (≥ 18 years of age) living on-campus housing with access to smart phones. Participants were recruited via flyers placed around campus. HIV knowledge and HIV risky behaviors were measured at baseline and at two months using the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire and sex History Questionnaire. The intervention consisted of participants listening to two informational lectures, one month apart, using smart phones and QR codes. Upon completion, HIV literature was given to all participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequencies and independent t-tests. Participants’ age ranged from 18-24 (M = 20.2, SD = 1.57), who were mostly females (65.7%), African Americans (77.1%) and heterosexuals (85.7%). Almost two thirds (65.7%) of the sample had not been tested for HIV and 1 participant thought that he had been exposed to HIV, although 91% had reported to having unprotected sex. Pre-test HIV knowledge scores ranged from 9-18 (M =13.32, SD = 2.32). Post-test HIV knowledge scores were significantly different from pretest scores with a range of 16-48 (M = 17.88, SD = .42). The findings of this study support the need for innovative ways to deliver HIV prevention information to this population. Continued research is needed to help decrease risk behaviors among college students.

Keywords

College Students, HIV Prevention, Smartphones.

How to Cite this Article?

Foster, V., Obi, C., Smiley, L., Campbell, K., Collins, E. S., Morgan, R., Nteff, G., Capponi, N., and Vera, L. D. (2020). Using Smartphone Technology in HIV Prevention among On-Campus Residents . i-manager's Journal on Nursing, 10(3), 13-21. https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.10.3.17317

References

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