Effectiveness and Implementation of Text Messaging to Improve HIV Testing in Adolescents
NCT ID: NCT06096519
Last Updated: 2025-08-06
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
360 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-06-13
2026-06-30
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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As such there is a need for interventions that aim to increase HIV testing in adolescents. This study builds upon the work of a previous text-based sexual health intervention program called G2G. The G2G pilot randomized controlled trial showed adolescents in the active treatment arm were \>3x more likely to report being tested for HIV at follow-up compared to those in the control arm. Given the success of HIV testing behaviors in G2G this current study will aim to update G2G with the latest HIV prevention and testing science, tailor the intervention content so it is modern and inclusive of all adolescents, and test its effectiveness on the outcome of validated HIV testing (e.g., photo of HIV test result). We will test this in a nationwide randomized controlled trial with 360 adolescents aged 13-18.
The primary efficacy outcome measure is HIV/STI testing via self report and objective evidence (e.g., photo of their test results) at 3 month and 6 month follow up surveys. Our study hypothesizes that participants assigned to the treatment arm of the intervention will have higher odds of having received an HIV test at 3 and 6 month follow up compared to those in the control arm. Ultimately, increased HIV testing in this group will mitigate transmission rates and improve the HIV prevention and care continua in this population.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
PREVENTION
SINGLE
Study Groups
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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).
Information only control arm
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.
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.
Information, motivation, behavioral skills treatment arm
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.
Interventions
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Information, motivation, behavioral skills treatment arm
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
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.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* 13-18 years old
* reads in English at a 8th grade level
* HIV negative or unknown status
* own a cell phone with an unlimited MMS plan and plan to have the same number during the study
* can provide informed assent, as shown on a capacity to consent assessment
* live in the U.S. or territories.
Exclusion Criteria
* HIV positive
* Currently on PrEP
13 Years
19 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NIH
Northwestern University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Kathryn Macapagal
Associate Professor
Locations
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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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STU00217358
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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