Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Over the past two decades, significant changes have occurred in how men who have sex with men (MSM) find partners, moving from the traditional approach (in person at gay bars) to the Internet and now to smartphone dating applications (apps). Notably, both international and local studies have found a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and risky sexual behaviours, such as condomless anal sex, substance misuse in conjunction with sex ('chemsex') and group sex, among MSM dating app users. Although the use of dating apps is an emerging sexual risk factor, little effort has been expended on the promotion of safe sex and good sexual health among the users of those apps. Previous studies in various populations have found that interactive web-based interventions can improve sexual health knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviours. Therefore, the aim of the proposed study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive web-based intervention in improving the sexual health of MSM dating app users in Hong Kong.
Who can participate?
Adult men over 18 years who are homosexually active and use dating apps.
What does the study involve?
Chinese MSM dating app users who have had sex in the past 12 months will be recruited and randomly allocated into either the intervention (n = 200) or control group (n = 200). Subjects in the intervention group will receive the web-based intervention containing interactive content that (1) encourages a positive attitude towards consistent condom use and HIV/STI testing and negative attitude towards chemsex and group sex; (2) positions condom use and regular HIV/STI testing as normative; and (3) targets improved perceived self-efficacy concerning condom use and negotiation and HIV/STI testing. The control group will receive only web-based information without sexual health components. Subjects in both groups will be evaluated at baseline and three and six months after baseline.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
One possible benefit is that participants can enhance their sexual health knowledge. There is no significant risk in the study.
Where is the study run from?
School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2020 to September 2021
Who is funding the study?
Research Grants Council (Early Career Scheme), University of Hong Kong.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Edmond Pui Hang Choi
h0714919@connect.hku.hk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Edmond Pui Hang Choi
ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9062-3540
Contact details
School of Nursing
The University of Hong Kong
4/F
William M.W. Mong Block
21 Sassoon Road
Pokfulam
Hong Kong
-
Hong Kong
+852 3917 6600
h0714919@connect.hku.hk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
Nil known
Study information
Scientific title
Safe use of dating applications (apps) among men who have sex with men: developing and testing an interactive web-based intervention to reduce risky sexual behaviours
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Education regarding condom use and HIV/STI testing will result in (1) fewer risky sexual behaviours, (2) better efficacy in and positive attitudes towards condom use, and (3) more HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing.
Ethics approval
Approved 20/02/2018, Institutional Review Board of the University of Hong Kong/Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster (Room 901, 9/F, Administration Block, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong; +852 2255 4086; hkwirb@ha.org.hk), ref: HKU/HA HKW IRB: UW 18-152
Study design
Two-armed non-blinded randomized controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Community
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet.
Condition
Safe sex to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STI)
Intervention
Chinese MSM dating app users who have had sex in the past 12 months will be recruited and randomly allocated into either the intervention (n = 200) or control group (n = 200). Subjects in the intervention group will receive the web-based intervention containing interactive content that (1) encourages a positive attitude towards consistent condom use and HIV/STI testing and negative attitude towards chemsex and group sex; (2) positions condom use and regular HIV/STI testing as normative; and (3) targets improved perceived self-efficacy concerning condom use and negotiation and HIV/STI testing. The control group will receive only web-based information without sexual health components. Subjects in both groups will be evaluated at baseline and 3 and 6 months after baseline.
Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or control group via computer-generated block randomisation (with blocks of size 4) on a 1:1 randomisation ratio; no stratification will be applied.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Frequency of condomless anal sex measured using self-report, in the preceding 3 months (at baseline), at 3 months, and 6 months follow up
Secondary outcome measures
1. Frequency of group sex and chemsex measured using self-report, in the preceding 3 months (at baseline), at 3 months, and 6 months follow up
2. Self-efficacy in condom use measured using the validated traditional Chinese version of the Condom Self-Efficacy Scale at baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up
3. Attitudes towards condom use is measured by the UCLA Multidimensional Condom Attitudes Scale at baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up
4. Frequency of HIV and other STI testing measured using self-report, in the preceding 3 months (at baseline), at 3 months, and 6 months follow up
Overall trial start date
01/10/2017
Overall trial end date
30/09/2021
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Men who have sex with men
2. Cisgender
3. Aged 18 or above
4. Current dating app users
5. HIV-negative
6. Sexually active
7. Able to read and understand Chinese
Participant type
Other
Age group
Adult
Gender
Male
Target number of participants
400
Participant exclusion criteria
Does not meet inclusion criteria
Recruitment start date
01/06/2020
Recruitment end date
31/03/2021
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Hong Kong
Trial participating centre
The University of Hong Kong
School of Nursing
4/F, William M.W. Mong Block
21 Sassoon Road
Pokfulam
Hong Kong
-
Hong Kong
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Hong Kong
Sponsor details
School of Nursing
4/F
William M.W. Mong Block
21 Sassoon Road
Pokfulam
Hong Kong
-
Hong Kong
+852 3917 6600
nursing@hku.hk
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Funder name
University of Hong Kong
Alternative name(s)
HKU
Funding Body Type
unknown
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
IPD sharing statement:
The current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date
Intention to publish date
31/12/2021
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2020 protocol in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32460748/ (added 29/05/2020)