Use of the location-based social networking application GRINDR as a recruitment tool in rectal microbicide development research.

Burrell, Earl R; Pines, Heather A; Robbie, Edward; Coleman, Leonardo; Murphy, Ryan D; Hess, Kristen L; Anton, Peter; Gorbach, Pamina M

Use of the location-based social networking application GRINDR as a recruitment tool in rectal microbicide development research.

Date

2012-09-26

Authors

Abstract

Mobile phone social networking applications such as GRINDR are potential tools for recruitment of men who have sex with men MSM for HIV prevention research Demographics and sexual risk behaviors of men recruited through GRINDR and through traditional media were compared GRINDR participants were younger mean age 31 vs 42 p Under 0 0001 more White identified 44 vs 30 p Under 0 01 and had more sex partners in the previous 14 days 1 88 vs 1 10 p Under 0 05 than other recruits Email responses were less successful for enrollment than phone calls 5 vs 50 This approach resulted in successful recruitment of younger and more educated White identified MSM

Keywords

At risk for a particular disease or infection, Men (only), Access to information or data, Safe sex, HIV/AIDS, Data collection and reporting, Installed application