The efficacy of using online narratives in changing HIV risk perceptions and behaviours among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong

Efficacy of the narrative persuasion intervention in changing HIV risk perceptions and behaviours among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong: an online randomised controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN14109784

Enrollment

236

Registered

2018-09-27

Start date

2017-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2023-01-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

HIV prevention Infections and Infestations Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention

Interventions

Participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention group or the control group using the web-based tool Research Randomizer. The multiple-session intervention will last for 6 w

whereas for the control group, the videos contain the didactic ones only. Firsthand stories will be elicited from eligible MSM peers with diverse behavioral patterns and experiences of HIV/STI infecti

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Male

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Male 2. Aged 18 years or older 3. Self-reported to have engaged in anal sex with another man in the past 6 months 4. Self-reported as a regular internet use (use the internet at least once per week) 5. Able to read Chinese

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Diagnosed as HIV positive prior to enrolment

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The following will be measured through an online self-administered survey (The HIV Preventive Behavior Survey) on the study website: 1. Unprotected anal intercourse: the frequency of condom use in both receptive and insertive anal sex with different types of sex partners (regular and non-regular partners) in the past 3 months at T0, during the intervention period at T1, and during the follow-up period at T2; and whether they had used a condom in the last sex encounter with the different types of sex partners. 2. HIV testing: whether they have taken part in HIV testing in the past six months at T0, during the intervention period at T1, and during the follow-up period at T2	—

Measure

Time frame

The following will be measured through an online self-administered survey (The HIV Preventive Behavior Survey) on the study website: 1. Unprotected anal intercourse: the frequency of condom use in both receptive and insertive anal sex with different types of sex partners (regular and non-regular partners) in the past 3 months at T0, during the intervention period at T1, and during the follow-up period at T2; and whether they had used a condom in the last sex encounter with the different types of sex partners. 2. HIV testing: whether they have taken part in HIV testing in the past six months at T0, during the intervention period at T1, and during the follow-up period at T2

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
The following will be measured through an online self-administered survey (The HIV Preventive Behavior Survey) on the study website: 1. Cognitive correlates of behavioural outcomes, assessed at the baseline (T0), during the intervention period at T1 and during the follow-up period at T2: 1.1. Intention to use a condom 1.2. Perceived behavioural control over condom use 1.3. Condom social norms 1.4. Attitudes towards condom use 1.5. Risk perceptions about HIV/STIs 1.6. Self-efficacy about condom use 1.7. Intention to be tested for HIV 2. Measures of information processing mechanisms, assessed during the intervention period at T1 and during the follow-up period at T2: 2.1. Argument-based cognitive responses 2.2. Narrative responses	—

Measure

Time frame

The following will be measured through an online self-administered survey (The HIV Preventive Behavior Survey) on the study website: 1. Cognitive correlates of behavioural outcomes, assessed at the baseline (T0), during the intervention period at T1 and during the follow-up period at T2: 1.1. Intention to use a condom 1.2. Perceived behavioural control over condom use 1.3. Condom social norms 1.4. Attitudes towards condom use 1.5. Risk perceptions about HIV/STIs 1.6. Self-efficacy about condom use 1.7. Intention to be tested for HIV 2. Measures of information processing mechanisms, assessed during the intervention period at T1 and during the follow-up period at T2: 2.1. Argument-based cognitive responses 2.2. Narrative responses

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Countries

Hong Kong

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026