Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) who use dating applications (apps) have higher rates of engaging in condomless anal sex than those who do not. Therefore, we conducted a two-arm randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive web-based intervention in promoting safer sex among this population. The intervention was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and co-designed by researchers, healthcare providers, and MSM participants. The primary outcome was the frequency of condomless anal sex in past three months. Secondary outcomes included five other behavioral outcomes and two psychological outcomes. This trial was registered on ISRCTN (ISRCTN16681863) on 2020/04/28. A total of 480 MSM were enrolled and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Our findings indicate that the intervention significantly reduced condomless anal sex behaviors by enhancing self-efficacy and attitudes toward condom use among MSM dating app users, with the effects sustained at both three and six months.

Details

Title
Ehealth interactive intervention in promoting safer sex among men who have sex with men
Author
Choi, Edmond Pui Hang 1 ; Wu, Chanchan 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Choi, Kitty Wai Ying 1 ; Chau, Pui Hing 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Wan, Eric Yuk Fai 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Wong, William Chi Wai 3 ; Wong, Janet Yuen Ha 4 ; Fong, Daniel Yee Tak 1 ; Chow, Eric Pui Fung 5   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

1  The University of Hong Kong, School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, China (GRID:grid.194645.b) (ISNI:0000 0001 2174 2757) 
2  The University of Hong Kong, Department of Family Medicine & Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, China (GRID:grid.194645.b) (ISNI:0000 0001 2174 2757); The University of Hong Kong, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, China (GRID:grid.194645.b) (ISNI:0000 0001 2174 2757) 
3  The University of Hong Kong, Department of Family Medicine & Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, China (GRID:grid.194645.b) (ISNI:0000 0001 2174 2757) 
4  Hong Kong Metropolitan University, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong, China (GRID:grid.445014.0) (ISNI:0000 0000 9430 2093) 
5  Alfred Health, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Melbourne, Australia (GRID:grid.267362.4) (ISNI:0000 0004 0432 5259); Monash University, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Australia (GRID:grid.1002.3) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 7857); The University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Melbourne, Australia (GRID:grid.1008.9) (ISNI:0000 0001 2179 088X) 
Pages
313
Publication year
2024
Publication date
Dec 2024
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
23986352
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01313-3
ProQuest document ID
3126245600
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.