Evaluation of Bro Online: An Internet-based HIV prevention initiative for gay and bisexual men

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Bro Online, an Internet-based HIV health prevention intervention encouraging a condom culture among gay and bisexual men, in achieving its short-term outcomes (member profiles promoting condom use, members having knowledge of high-risk behaviour and how to reduce risk and members having better access to condoms) and medium-term outcome (being a social space with a norm of condom use). The study design is a programme theory-based evaluation using evaluative rubrics. The method used involves review of Bro Online user profiles, existing site management and Google analytic data, and online survey of data completed by 91 members. The findings show that overall Bro Online achieved mixed results for the four evaluated outcomes with one very good, two good and one poor outcome rating. We conclude that Bro Online is a promising HIV prevention intervention. Development of the website to strengthen the intervention is recommended. Further evaluation will contribute to building the HIV prevention evidence. © 2013 Copyright Institute of Health Promotion and Education.