Title
Are participants concerned about privacy and security when using short message service to report product adherence in a rectal microbicide trial?
Date Issued
01 April 2018
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Giguere R.
Brown W.
Balán I.C.
Dolezal C.
Ho T.
Sheinfil A.
Ibitoye M.
McGowan I.
Cranston R.D.
Carballo-Dieguez A.
Publisher(s)
Oxford University Press
Abstract
Objective: During a Phase 2 rectal microbicide trial, men who have sex with men and transgender women (n=187) in 4 countries (Peru, South Africa, Thailand, United States) reported product use daily via short message service (SMS). To prevent disclosure of study participation, the SMS system program included privacy and security features. We evaluated participants' perceptions of privacy while using the system and acceptability of privacy/security features. Materials and Methods: To protect privacy, the SMS system: (1) confirmed participant availability before sending the study questions, (2) required a password, and (3) did not reveal product name or study participation. To ensure security, the system reminded participants to lock phone/delete messages. A computer-assisted selfinterview (CASI), administered at the final visit, measured burden of privacy and security features and SMS privacy concerns. A subsample of 33 participants underwent an in-depth interview (IDI). Results: Based on CASI, 85% had no privacy concerns; only 5% were very concerned. Most were not bothered by the need for a password (73%) or instructions to delete messages (82%). Based on IDI, reasons for low privacy concerns included sending SMS in private or feeling that texting would not draw attention. A few IDI participants found the password unnecessary and more than half did not delete messages. Discussion: Most participants were not concerned that the SMS system would compromise their confidentiality. SMS privacy and security features were effective and not burdensome. Conclusion: Short ID-related passwords, ambiguous language, and reminders to implement privacy and security-enhancing behaviors are recommended for SMS systems.
Start page
393
End page
400
Volume
25
Issue
4
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Ciencias socio biomédicas (planificación familiar, salud sexual, efectos políticos y sociales de la investigación biomédica)
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85043460465
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
ISSN of the container
10675027
Sponsor(s)
MTN-017 was sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CONRAD (Contraception Research and Development). The study was designed and implemented by the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN). The MTN is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (UM1AI068633, UM1AI068615, UM1AI106707), with co-funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), all components of the US National Institutes of Health. The study products used in this study were supplied by the Investigational New Drug sponsor, CONRAD, and the pharmaceutical collaborator, Gilead. This work was also supported by a center grant from the NIMH to the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University (P30-MH43520). WB was supported by the National Library of Medicine (R01-LM012355-01A1 and T15-LM007079) and the NIMH/National Institute on Drug Abuse (R03-MH103957). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.
Sources of information:
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