Advancing HIV Prevention and Linkage to Care Among MSM With Gamification

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02946164
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: October 27, 2016
• Last Update Posted: February 22, 2018
• Sponsor: University of California, Berkeley
• Collaborators: AIDS Healthcare Foundation; University of California, Los Angeles
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): University of California, Berkeley

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This study is a pilot evaluation of 'Stick To It', a behavioral intervention based on the concept of gamification. The objective of the program is to encourage young men who have sex with men (MSM) to be regularly screened for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to adopt safer sexual behaviors, with the ultimate goal to decrease HIV and STI incidence. Gamification is the application of game elements, like points, badges, and rewards, to non-game settings.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
HIV Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases	Behavioral: Stick To It	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

The investigators will conduct a quasi-experimental pilot study of 'Stick To It', a prevention intervention that uses gamification principles and mechanics. The intervention includes an online timer that reminds men to get tested, online quizzes, and peer recruitment; these activities are awarded with points redeemable for chances at prizes at participating clinics. The intervention was designed based on findings from interviews with health staff and focus groups with young MSM, and with input from a gamification consultant. The primary hypothesis is that the intervention will increase repeat HIV/STI testing among young MSM. The intervention will be implemented at two STI clinics in Oakland and Los Angeles, California in 2-week intervals for six months. The investigators will review medical records of exposed and unexposed young MSM attending the same STI clinics to compare uptake of quarterly HIV testing and self-reported behavior after six months.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 166 participants
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Official Title: Advancing HIV Prevention and Linkage to Care Among MSM With Gamification
• Study Start Date: October 2016
• Actual Primary Completion Date: October 31, 2017
• Actual Study Completion Date: December 31, 2017

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
No Intervention: Comparison: Standard of Care; Standard services available to all men at AHF Wellness Centers.
Active Comparator: Intervention: 'Stick To It' Intervention; Behavioral intervention.	Behavioral: Stick To It; The intervention is a prize system linked to points earned through online and real-world activities designed to incentivize young MSM to test for HIV and STIs every three months. Participants receive points for pre-determined activities, such as: answering online quizzes, inviting friends to participate, and getting tested for HIV/STIs. Points are redeemable in person at two AIDS Healthcare Foundation Men's Wellness Centers, where participants will be able to exchange their points for gumballs from a gumball machine; different color combinations of gumballs correspond to prizes of different values. Participants are reminded to get tested regularly via SMS messages; in addition, they can check when their next test is due by checking their testing timer on the stick2it.org website.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Repeat HIV Testing [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
   The number of men in the intervention who receive ≥1 additional HIV tests over 6 months of follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. HIV-related risk behavior [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
   We will determine the number of reported sex partners, the prevalence and frequency of unprotected anal intercourse with a partner of opposite or unknown status in the past 6 months

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 26 Years (Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: Male
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-26 years of age
• male
• self-identify as gay / bisexual / queer
• willing and able to provide informed consent to join the Stick To It program
• resident in one of several zip code areas surrounding the clinic

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not a resident of one of included zip code areas

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, California

AHF Hollywood Wellness Center

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90027

AHF Wellness Center Oakland

Oakland, California, United States, 94606

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of California, Berkeley

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

University of California, Los Angeles

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Sandra I McCoy, PhD; Assistant Adjunct Professor

More Information

Additional Information:

Link to intervention website 

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Mejia CM, Acland D, Buzdugan R, Grimball R, Natoli L, McGrath MR, Klausner JD, McCoy SI. An Intervention Using Gamification to Increase Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in California: Rationale and Design of Stick To It. JMIR Res Protoc. 2017 Jul 17;6(7):e140. doi: 10.2196/resprot.8064.

• Responsible Party: University of California, Berkeley
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02946164
• Other Study ID Numbers: R34MH106359 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
• First Posted: October 27, 2016
• Last Update Posted: February 22, 2018
• Last Verified: February 2018

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Communicable Diseases; Infections; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes