The safe utilization of dating applications among males who possess intercourse with males: a report protocol for the randomised managed test to assess an interactive web-based intervention to lessen dangerous intimate behaviours

Aims and objectives

The purpose of this research is always to assess the effectiveness of this interactive web-based intervention in enhancing intimate wellness of dating apps users. Its three objectives that are specific: (i) to lessen dangerous intimate behaviours (regularity of condomless rectal intercourse, team intercourse and chemsex); (ii) to boost users’ self-efficacy in and attitudes towards condom usage; and (iii) to improve the regularity of HIV and STI assessment.

Hypotheses

It’s hypothesised that, guys getting the web-based intervention are more inclined to show (i) less risky intimate behaviours, (ii) better effectiveness in and good attitudes towards condom usage, and (iii) more HIV and STI evaluation, when compared with males perhaps perhaps perhaps perhaps not getting the web-based intervention.

Techniques

Learn design

It’s a two-armed non-blinded randomised control test (RCT) design ( by having a 6-month follow-up duration) will likely to be used with this research.

Individuals and test size reason

A complete of 400 topics are going to be recruited for the RCT. According to a result measurements of 0.3 (as reported in meta-analysis [33]), it’s been determined that the test size for every team should always be 175 (i.e. 350 as a whole) to attain 80% energy in detecting a between-group distinction with a separate t-test at a 0.05 importance degree. Presuming a projected 12.4% attrition rate (as reported in a RCT in a comparable environment [41]), an overall total of 400 subjects (i.e. 200 topics in each combined team) is important.

To qualify for addition within the RCT, people needs to be i that is( MSM, (ii) cis male, (iii) aged 18 or above, (iv) present dating application users, (v) HIV-negative, (vi) intimately active, and (vii) able to see and comprehend Chinese.

Sampling framework

Numerous types of recruitment shall be used. First, neighborhood non-governmental organisations that target the population that is MSM make it possible to recruit individuals. Second, because of the high prevalence of dating use that is app college pupils based in the past research [28], mass college email messages and on-campus posters will undoubtedly be utilized to recruit possible individuals. Third, marketing materials will likely to be published on social media and online discussion boards focusing on MSM. 4th, direct recruitment via dating apps will need destination. Finally, snowballing is going to be utilized, with enrolled individuals asked to ask friends that are potentially interested join the research.

On the web consent and enrolment

Individuals will enrol within the test through the intervention web site. an assessment questionnaire shall be administered to make certain participant eligibility. Qualified individuals will likely then be hornet login expected to signal a digital permission type and offer contact information. After these initial actions, individuals may be required to perform a web-based standard questionnaire.

Randomisation and allocation concealment

After conclusion of this standard questionnaire, individuals is going to be arbitrarily assigned to either the intervention team or control group via computer-generated block randomisation (with obstructs of size 4) for a 1:1 randomisation ratio; no stratification will undoubtedly be used. Individuals are immediately led towards the content connected with their allocation.

Intervention team

A participatory design approach can be used to build up the intervention. a qualitative research has been carried out to understand dating app users’ experience of using dating apps and participating in high-risk intimate behaviours and exploring what elements of intimate wellness training could be appealing and engaging to the populace. The findings associated with the qualitative research will notify the intervention development.

The theoretical framework associated with the intervention is likely to be in line with the TPB. The aims regarding the intervention are to: (i) encourage a confident mindset towards constant condom usage and HIV/STI testing, and bad attitude towards chemsex and team sex; (ii) place condom use and regular HIV/STI testing as normative; and (iii) improve sensed self-efficacy concerning condom usage and settlement and HIV/STI testing. The intervention is likely to feature: (i) interactive elements, and (ii) other materials that are educational.