Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

The investigators will conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the JomPrEP app and examine its preliminary efficacy in improving PrEP cascade compared with the control group.


Clinical Trial Description

mHealth is a promising and cost-effective strategy to reach stigmatized and hard-to-reach populations and link them to care. Leveraging mHealth reduces individuals' discomfort and distrust of disclosing risk behaviors to providers, providers' low cultural competency for working with individuals of diverse sexual identities, and bypasses barriers to care for marginalized populations, - all features crucial for HIV prevention in MSM in Malaysia. Results from the investigators' studies show Malaysian MSM often do not get HIV tested or initiate PrEP. Mixed methods suggest MSM want these services but prefer a streamlined system to access them that reduces interaction with clinicians where disclosure and perceived judgment occurs. mHealth may overcome these barriers by facilitating prevention services delivery and health decision-making in a confidential, less-stigmatizing, and convenient manner. Overall smartphone growth in Malaysia (63% in 2015 to 89% in 2017), and the investigators' parallel work with MSM indicates that nearly all (>97%) MSM own a smartphone. Findings from qualitative interviews with MSM further indicate preferences for interfacing with 'apps' rather than health professionals as well as local stakeholders indicating strong interest in using such platform to deliver HIV prevention services align with developing culturally tailored mHealth strategies and to engage MSM in virtual communication with providers - all embedded within one app. To the investigators' knowledge however, no mHealth intervention has been developed to improve access to HIV prevention services in Malaysia. The investigators, therefore, propose to pilot test their new clinic-affiliated app (JomPrEP) to promote HIV testing and PrEP uptake in Malaysian MSM. They will conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the JomPrEP app and examine its preliminary efficacy in improving PrEP cascade compared with the control group. The investigators will enroll 90 participants who will be randomized (1:1) to receive either the JomPrEP app or the control group and assessed at 3- and 6-months. Randomization will be stratified by ATS use (16% to 24%) and age. They will conduct exit interviews with participants and clinical staff to examine the barriers and facilitators to the app and obtain feedback to further optimize the app. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT05044013
Study type Interventional
Source University of Connecticut
Contact Roman Shrestha, PhD
Phone +1(903)407-0387
Email roman.shrestha@uconn.edu
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date November 15, 2023
Completion date June 2025

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT04738825 - Promoting HIV Risk Reduction Among People Who Inject Drugs: A Stepped Care Approach Using Contingency Management With PrEP Adherence and Support Services N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT06373965 - Integrated Online-to-offline (O2O) Model of Care for HIV Prevention and Treatment Among Transgender Women (CINTAI) N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT06373952 - Integrated Online-to-offline (O2O) Model of Care for HIV Prevention and Treatment Among Men Who Have Sex With Men N/A
Completed NCT05052411 - Beta Testing of a Smartphone App for HIV Prevention in Malaysian MSM N/A
Completed NCT04531670 - Testing of the Integrated Rapid Access to HIV Prevention Program for People Who Inject Drugs Program N/A
Recruiting NCT05325476 - Testing of the JomPrEP App for HIV Prevention Among Malaysian MSM N/A