Table 1.

Brief descriptions of online HIV/STD prevention strategies assessed by HIV/STD directors, MSM website users, and website owners stakeholders.

Broad strategy	Specific interventions
Searching for partners	Filtering or searching for partners by sexual preferences such as “safe sex only”, “barebacking”, “HIV positive”, etc. Specialized chat rooms, lists or areas that provide a space for men interested in “safe sex only”, “barebacking”, “HIV positive”, etc.
Profile options	Option to include HIV status Option to include Hepatitis C status Option to include Hepatitis B status Option to share date of last HIV test Option to include date of last STI test Option to include safer sex preferences/condom use (i.e. always, sometimes, needs more discussion) Option to include sexual preferences (i.e. topping, oral sex, etc) Option to include status of relationship (single, in a relationship, etc) Option to include preference for dating Option to include preference for hooking up Option to include preference for not using methamphetamines during sex (party and play “PnP” preference) Option to include drug use preference
Site information	Websites would include a link to blogs where users could anonymously write about their online experiences An independent website, not affiliated with any cruising website, where users could write reviews of the top cruising websites A website that would provide aggregate statistics on site user characteristics (i.e. percent of men who say they are looking for “safe sex only,” “barebacking,” etc). This information would be provided by website owners and hosted on a site that would be updated several times a year An online guide that lists the number of individuals diagnosed with syphilis or other STDs who report meeting their partners on specific websites. The data would be provided by public health departments and updated several times a year
Health information	Health information on HIV/STDs, treatments, etc. Access to a sexual health expert that could answer users’ questions about HIV, STDs, and sexual health Websites have screens for users to enter information about themselves in order to receive tailored health information Information about methamphetamines and other drugs A list of local health education events nearby, like educational forums on an emerging health topic or safer sex workshop Tips for having fun, healthy, and hot sex
Socializing information	A list of geo-targeted local social events Advice on safer cruising, including safety tips for hooking up Advice on how users can write effective profiles or ads without being offensive to others Profiles have an option to link to a user’s MySpace, Facebook, or other social networking profile Tracking partners using an online “black book” to keep track of partners and potential partners, and sexual activity
Education and outreach	Live chat with an outreach worker about HIV, STDs, and sexual health Online individual education sessions about sexual health topics Online group education sessions about sexual health topics Watching videos that show men dealing with issues like safer sex, telling someone their HIV status or related issues in a sex-positive way
HIV/STI testing	A directory of HIV test sites, searchable by zip code or county, such as hivtest.org A directory of STD test sites searchable by zip code or county, such as findstdtest.org Reminders to users, at an interval they choose, to get tested for HIV and/or STDs Printable lab slips signed by a physician, which would allow users to go to local labs to get tested for STDs
Partner notification	Notify partners on your own (a health department could offer suggestions for how to do this) Use a website, such as inSPOT.org, to send an anonymous e-card informing partners they may have been exposed to an STD or HIV Allow a health department professional to contact the sexual partners, letting them know they may have been exposed to an STD not including HIV Allow a health department professional to contact the sexual partners, letting them know they may have been exposed to HIV.