Patient Portals as Highly Acceptable Tools to Support HIV Preventative Behaviors Among Adolescent and Young Sexual Minority Men

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present perceptions about using patient portals to manage HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) test results and to communicate with sexual partners among a 2018 nationwide sample of adolescent and young sexual minority men (YSMM) aged 15-25 years. Methods: Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted on cross-sectional online survey data. Results: Participants gave high or moderate value to portals that provide tips for sexual health (95.1% [1,168/1,228]), ability to locate HIV/STI testing centers (96.9% [1,190/1,228]), and ability to order home-based HIV/STI testing (96% [1,179/1,228]). Perceived health engagement and dyadic communication benefits of use were sustained at or above 94%. YSMM with a history of HIV/STI diagnosis were less willing to share online results with main (93% vs. 97%; X-2 = 5.13; p = .02) and nonmain (70% vs. 77%; X-2 = 5.17; p = .02) sexual partners. Conclusions: Patient portals represent highly acceptable spaces to deliver comprehensive sexual health services and could support communication on HIV/STI testing with sex partners among YSMM. (C) 2020 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.