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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04714034

Real Risks of the Online World

Development and validation of questionnaire/scale to assess problematic online dating app (ODA) use in a sub-cohort of the SwissPrEPared cohort study (validation sample: n=229). Longitudinal design to assess the association of problematic ODA use and sexual/mental health and substance use outcomes. No randomised trial, only 1 cohort which will be stratified according to severity/risk of problematic ODA use.

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Key information

Conditions

Sexual Health

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8001, Switzerland

About this study

This project may fill an important gap of knowledge in a research area that has taken on major importance over the past few years, and has thus the potential to impact several major public health recommendations. First, considering the high penetrance of dating apps in the men who have sex with men (MSM) population (reaching 78.2% in a recent report), more than 62,000 MSM in Switzerland are estimated to use such applications. How many of them suffer from addiction or problmatic use remains unclear and our project will be the first to provide estimates of the prevalence of problematic ODA use in this particular population. Second, our project will help to clarify the impact of online dating app usage on health outcomes. By identifying drivers of the current HIV/(sexual transmitted infections (STI) epidemic in Switzerland, our project might thus provide critical information to shape future prevention measures aiming at further reducing HIV/STI incidence rates. Third, because sexual risk-taking increases with substance use and depression, it remains crucial to detect mental health outcomes early and provide adequate care to populations at high risk of HIV, or other STI, transmission. Fourth, our study might identify a new phenomenon related to high-risk sexual behaviour that may not be limited to the MSM group, but could also affect other, larger populations interacting and meeting through online communication channels. Considering that more than 41 million people are currently using dating apps in Europe, our findings might have a substantial impact on the general population. Finally, this project might provide the very first insights on the interplay between online dating, substance use, mental health and sexual risk taking. This new understanding could then help Switzerland create additional measures for preventing HIV transmission and reach the UNAIDS targets for HIV elimination by 2030.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • currently engaging in online dating (i.e., using applications/websites with the aim to meet potential relationship or sexual partners or having used them actively in the past 12 months)
  • Participating in the SwissPrEPared study at center Checkpoint Zurich
  • German speaking

Exclusion criteria

  • Potential participants will be excluded if they are unable to follow study procedures.

For Inclusion/Exclusion at the SwissPrEPared study see: NCT03893188 at clinicaltrials.gov

Treatment and study plan

to develop and validate a scale measuring problematic online dating app (ODA) use in sexual minorities

Diagnostic Test

Qualitative part: scale development and validation with testing in 3 different participant samples, i.e. preliminary testing (n=10), pilot testing (n=30-60), validation (n=300).

Quantitative part: longitudinal part conducted in the validation sample of the qualitative study part (n=300) with the aim to evaluate the association of scores in the problematic ODA use scale with sexual health and mental health outcomes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Develop and validate a scale measuring problematic online dating app (ODA) use

    Time frame: single measurement (one day per participant)

    Scale development and validation will follow the FDA guidance for patient-reported outcomes and recommendations on questionnaire research. Preliminary testing, pilot-testing, and validation will be conducted in participants from the SwissPrEPared Study

  2. Associated mental, sexual health and substance use outcomes of problematic ODA use

    Time frame: 6 months

    Evaluate the association of problematic ODA use with:

    Sexual health outcomes (incident cases of STI, such as syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia, or HIV), over 6 months Mental health outcomes: prevalence of psychiatric disorders, measured at baseline and 12 months, using validated questionnaires Substance use outcomes: Lifetime, 12-month, 3-month prevalence and frequency rates

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Zurich

Other

Collaborators

  • Center for Forensic Hair Analysis, Zurich
  • Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich

Registry information

Official study title

Real Risks of the Online World: Association of Problematic Online Dating App Use with Mental and Sexual Health Outcomes in Sexual Minorities

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jan 19, 2021
Registry last updated
Jan 31, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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