# Feasibility and Acceptability of an MI-based Telehealth Intervention for Bacterial STI Screening

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $195,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men living with HIV (GBMSM-LWH) bear a heavy burden of
bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea (GC), chlamydia (CT) and syphilis. Left
untreated, bacterial STIs may lead to serious health complications. Inflammatory and ulcerative STIs can also
facilitate the onward sexual transmission of HIV in the presence of inadequate viral suppression. Timely
diagnosis and treatment are key to prevention. Sexually active GBMSM-LWH engaged in HIV medical care are
not being screened for GC, CT and syphilis at least annually, as recommended. Home specimen self-collection
has increasingly been used to screen for bacterial STIs in studies conducted with diverse populations. Telehealth
has also demonstrated promise in managing mental health and increasing antiretroviral therapy adherence in
people living with HIV. Only few studies have combined home specimen self-collection with live audio/video
(AV) conferencing, all of which have been restricted to people without HIV. None have focused on GBMSM-LWH
or incorporated motivational interviewing (MI), a client-centered, strengths-based counseling approach that
seeks to support individuals towards positive behavioral change. Integrating home specimen self-collection from
different anatomical sites of possible exposure with MI delivered via live AV conferencing might offer a unique
solution to engage GBMSM-LWH in bacterial STI screening. MI-guided discussions have the potential to
increase participants’ knowledge of bacterial STIs, enhance their intrinsic motivation to protect themselves and
their sex partners, improve their self-efficacy for specimen self-collection, and problem-solve barriers to seeking
treatment (if warranted) and repeat testing. Our sequential explanatory mixed-methods study seeks to explore
the feasibility and acceptability of a novel MI-based telehealth intervention for sexually active GBMSM-LWH. In
Phase 1, we will recruit 75 participants via mobile dating apps and social networking websites, and deliver a 3-
component intervention: (i) a pre-test live AV conferencing session involving an MI-guided discussion to elicit
awareness of bacterial STIs and fill any knowledge gaps, bolster the perceived importance of regularly screening
for GC, CT and syphilis, and improve self-efficacy for specimen self-collection, (ii) self-collecting at home and
returning by mail a finger-stick blood sample (for syphilis testing), a urine sample (for GC and CT testing), a
pharyngeal swab (for GC and CT testing) and a rectal swab (for GC and CT testing), and (iii) a post-test live AV
conferencing session involving an MI-guided discussion to prepare participants for receiving test results and
formulate personalized action plans for seeking treatment (if warranted) and repeat testing. In Phase 2, we will
conduct in-depth interviews with a purposively selected subsample of 20 participants who complete
progressively smaller s...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10783819
- **Project number:** 5R21AI168606-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Akshay Sharma
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $195,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-02-10 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10783819

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10783819, Feasibility and Acceptability of an MI-based Telehealth Intervention for Bacterial STI Screening (5R21AI168606-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10783819. Licensed CC0.

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