Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Completed
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT04771312 |
| Other study ID # |
1707085 |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Completed |
| Phase |
N/A
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
July 19, 2021 |
| Est. completion date |
September 15, 2021 |
Study information
| Verified date |
September 2021 |
| Source |
University of California, Davis |
| Contact |
n/a |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is an effective additional preventative measure for
reducing the risk of HIV transmission. To address low levels of uptake, there is a need for
public health interventions to increase target populations' awareness and willingness for
adopting PrEP. One potential solution may be to incorporate a network intervention, which
utilizes the connections between individuals to facilitate health behavior. This project
examines how online networks can influence PrEP adoption intentions among gay and bisexual
men through a mobile app-based experiment. In this study, participants will be randomly
assigned into a social support condition or information-only control. Both conditions will
involve an information component consisting messages aimed to address awareness, knowledge,
and perceived barriers of PrEP adoption. However, those in the social support condition will
also have an online chatting tool where they can discuss topics surrounding PrEP.
The primary objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of the mobile app
intervention in increasing participants' knowledge/attitudes/intentions to initiate PrEP.
The secondary objective of this study is to determine the mechanism of the intervention
through mediation analyses.
Description:
Roughly 1.7 million people worldwide are infected with HIV each year (UNAIDS, 2017). HIV
pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) refers to taking a daily oral medicine to reduce the risk
of contracting HIV. Known by the brand name Truvada or Descovy, PrEP is an effective
additional preventative measure for reducing the risk of HIV transmission. To address low
levels of uptake, there is a need for public health interventions to increase target
populations' awareness and willingness for adopting PrEP.
One potential solution may be to incorporate a network intervention, which utilizes the
connections between individuals to facilitate health behavior. In particular, online networks
can provide anonymous support that transcends geographical boundaries (DeAndrea, 2015).
Stigmatized behaviors, such as the adoption of PrEP, may greatly benefit from interventions
that utilize online networks. This project examines how online networks can influence PrEP
adoption intentions among gay and bisexual men through a mobile app-based experiment.
There are several ways in which online networks may influence health; however, social support
may serve as the primary mechanism that influences PrEP adoption. In the context of HIV
prevention, social support has generally reduced HIV-related risky behaviors (Qiao, Li, &
Stanton, 2014). Thus, it is important to consider social support as a factor than can
influence one's intention to adopt PrEP.
This field experiment will randomly assign participants into a social support condition or
information-only control, and then randomly assign them into homophilous, clustered
six-member peer networks. Both conditions will involve an information component consisting
messages aimed to address awareness, knowledge, and perceived barriers of PrEP adoption.
Social support will be operationalized through an online chatting tool where participants can
discuss topics surrounding PrEP.
The primary objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of the mobile app
intervention in increasing participants' knowledge/attitudes/intentions to initiate PrEP.
The secondary objective of this study is to determine the mechanism of the intervention
through mediation analyses.
