Video gaming and Social Media Could Help Prevent HIV in At-Risk Gay Guys

Long after the peak of the American

HELPS

crisis,

HIV

continues to be an issue among homosexual guys, who are clinically determined to have the condition at a consistent level “more than 40 instances regarding ladies and more than 44 times regarding different males,” as a
current report
during the

Journal of Hospital Web Research

explains. The paper, a study of several tech-driven methods to reduce the rate of

HIV

within at-risk populace, factors toward the next generation of (ideally) successful


treatments.

There are lots of fascinating possibilities planned, because the research’s
news release explains
:

One interactive internet site, Sexpulse, designed by health professionals and computer scientists to target men who seek intimate associates on line, successfully decreased risky sexual habits. Another website, Continue The Good Work! (

KIU

), utilized game titles in lowering prices of unprotected anal sex. A 3rd initiative, an online video game, assisted mitigate shame experienced by some teenagers with sex with males, even though the decrease in dangerous intimate behavior was not statistically


considerable.

The challenge we have found less about

exactly what

message to supply, since the basics of just how

HIV

and

HELPS

work have-been fairly well-publicized at this stage, than ideas on how to provide it, since simply explaining that a conduct is harmful is often perhaps not adequate to alter


it.

It is advisable to mention that does not just apply to gay guys; individuals participate in a variety of risky actions, from substance abuse to overeating to smoking cigarettes to having sedentary lifestyles, despite having been advised they’re unsafe. This is exactly why issue of getting people to create healthier choices is an enormous area of worry for public-health scientists — making an effective behavior input can be a very difficult thing to do. (we’re going to be publishing an extended, much more in-depth post about this subject matter


eventually.)

A few of the most useful techniques smartly target social networks â€” peer stress tends to influence you in manners different is attractive often do not. This is borne out in the


overview:

On social media sites eg Twitter and Twitter, prominent individuals can spread

HIV

-prevention emails to their pals and fans. The sharing of real information about

HIV

testing join the dating app via this source on a myspace and facebook seemed to boost requests for

HIV

testing systems, one study discovered. Another learn unearthed that making use of opinion leaders to disseminate

HIV

-prevention details via social support systems may increase evaluating costs and bolster condom utilize during rectal intercourse with partners found


online.

Its a really peculiar quirk of individual thinking that packing the same kind of info in a slightly different way can result in much better outcomes. Fortunately, experts are starting to exploit


this.