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NCT Number: NCT03685643

Study Proposal for Web Based Intervention to Promote the Safe Usage of Dating Applications in Young Adults

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a program in promoting the safe usage of dating applications amongst young adults in Hong Kong. One group will receive the program regarding dating applications and the other group will receive a placebo program regarding health and exercise.

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Key information

Conditions

Sex, Unsafe Adolescent Behavior Behavior Behavior, Sex Sexual Behavior Unsafe Sex

Age range

17 year–27 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Caritas Institute of Community Education, Hong Kong

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About this study

Dating applications are a popular platform to meet new people; however, they have been associated with risks such as unsafe sexual behavior and privacy concerns in young adults.

The study design is an open-labeled cluster randomized controlled trial with an intervention and a placebo control arm. The intervention group will receive a web-based intervention developed through focus group discussions, crowdsourcing contest, and a Peer-Vetted Creative Production (PVCP) workshop comprising of four short videos, a risk assessment tool, and a scenario game. The control group will receive a web-based resource with similar multimedia elements on health and exercise.

Based on the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model, the primary outcome of this study is self-efficacy in using dating applications measured by the General Self Efficacy Scale. Secondary outcomes include change in attitudes regarding risk perception measured by the Risk Propensity Scale and depression symptoms.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 17-27 years old
  • Able to read and understand Chinese

Exclusion criteria

  • Have a physical impediment (e.g. blindness) to prevent them from accessing the content

Treatment and study plan

Intervention - Dating application topic

Behavioral

The intervention will consist of multimedia content to promote the safe usage of dating applications and raise awareness of the risks associated with dating application usage. The intervention will be delivered one-time in a classroom setting.

Control - Health and exercise topic

Behavioral

The placebo control will consist of multimedia content regarding exercise and healthy living. It will be delivered once-time in a classroom setting.

Primary outcomes

  1. Self Efficacy: This Will be Measured by the General Self Efficacy Scale

    Time frame: 8 months

    The primary outcome will be the self-efficacy on the safe usage of dating. applications among young adults in Hong Kong. This will be measured by the General Self Efficacy Scale. The General Self Efficacy Scale is a 10-item scale (with 4 level Likert scale ranging from "not true at all" to "exactly true") measuring one's self-belief in completing certain tasks or overcoming difficulties. The total score is calculated by finding the sum of all items with the total score ranging between 10 and 40, with a higher score indicating a higher level of self efficacy.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Risk Taking Tendencies Will be Measured by the The Risk Propensity Scale.

    Time frame: 8 month

    Participants' risk taking tendencies will be measured by the The Risk Propensity Scale. It is a 9-item scale measuring general risk-taking tendencies. Each item is rated on a 9 level Likert scale (ranging from "totally disagree" to "totally agree") with the final score ranging from 1-9. A higher score indicates higher risk-taking tendencies.

  2. Depression Symptoms Will be Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2).

    Time frame: 8 month

    Participants' risk of depression will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). This is a 2 item scale (with a 4 level Likert scale ranging from "Not at all" to "Nearly everyday") and the score ranges from 0-6, with a higher score indicating higher risk of depression.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The University of Hong Kong

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Study Protocol for a Peer-led Web-based Intervention to Promote Safe Usage of Dating Applications Amongst Young Adults: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Sep 26, 2018
Registry last updated
Apr 28, 2020

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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