Effectiveness and Implementation of Text Messaging to Improve HIV Testing in Adolescents

Conditions

• HIV

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

13 Years - 19 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Information, motivation, behavioral skills treatment arm — BEHAVIORAL
  Our intervention will be an updated version of (Guy2Guy) G2G, a 2014 text messaging-based healthy sexuality and HIV prevention program specifically for adolescent males. The treatment arm of G2G was guided by the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model and proved to be efficacious at increasing HIV testing in 13-18 year old adolescent males. In this updated version we will continue to utilize the IMB model, but modernize the content to include updated HIV prevention information (e.g., novel methods of HIV testing, PrEP, PEP) and tailor the text-message content to meet the needs of all adolescents.
• Information only control arm — BEHAVIORAL
  This information only control arm will consist of content and text messages focused on health behavior information, including mood, sexual health, substance use, and other health behaviors. It will be identical in length to the intervention arm.

Study Details

This study will test the effectiveness of a text message-based intervention on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing behaviors among adolescent (13-19 year old). To test the effectiveness on HIV testing behaviors we will randomize participants to the treatment or an attention matched information only control arm and asses our primary effectiveness outcome of objective HIV testing (e.g., photo of test results).

Key Dates

Start date

Jun 13, 2024

Status verified

Mar 2026

Primary completion

Apr 30, 2026

Completion

Jul 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

360 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Arms

• Placebo Comparator: Information only control
  The attention matched control arm will include information based text messages about general health and sexual health topics such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), relationships, and biomedical methods of HIV prevention (e.g., Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)). No motivational or behavioral skill based text messages aimed at increasing HIV testing or reducing HIV risk behavior will be included. All participants will receive 8-10 messages/day for 6 weeks, with a 1 week booster. Participants in the control arm will have modified access to the interactive features such as quizzes, badges, an external chatbot feature, a website with sexual health resources and a group chat feature (a group of 3-5 total participants with whom participants can discuss program content).
• Experimental: Information, motivation, behavioral skills treatment arm
  The active treatment arm consists of text messages with information, motivation, and behavioral skill based text messages aimed at increasing HIV testing, our primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include STI testing, PrEP uptake, condomless sex, and discussions with providers about PrEP/HIV care. Hypothesized mediators of HIV testing include testing/prevention information, motivation, and behavioral skills. All participants will receive 8-10 messages/day for 6 weeks, with a 1 week booster session following the intervention. In the active treatment arm, participants will have full access to interactive features such as quizzes, badges, an external chatbot feature, a website with sexual health resources, and a group chat feature (a group of 3-5 total participants with whom participants can discuss program content) to promote engagement and enhance learning and skills acquisition.

Primary Outcome Measure

HIV/STI testing [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3-months post-intervention, 6-months post-intervention ]

Central Contacts

• Kathryn Macapagal, PhD
  3125033605
  [email protected]
• Andrés Alvarado Avila, MPH
  3125035446
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Chicago, IL

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