Efficacy Trial of Life Simulation Game to Routinize Adolescent HIV Testing

George Washington University300 enrolled

Overview

This study will aim to assess the acceptability, usability and efficacy of using state-of-the-art video game technology to increase HIV testing among adolescents and young adults (AYA) ages 13-24. AYA often lack awareness of their personal risk of contracting HIV and where to go for testing and care. This lack of awareness has contributed to poor uptake of HIV testing among AYA despite engagement in high risk behaviors. The goal of this project is to harness this strong motivation to play games to increase HIV testing. Previous games for behavior change have yielded early success for increasing target behaviors among their sample populations, yet research on increasing HIV testing among AYA through gaming has been limited. This intervention builds on prior formative work and is designed to offer AYA personally-tailored risk messages and supports their accessibility to HIV testing and prevention services through an innovative gaming approach that is sharable over social media with in-game rewards for sharing the game with peers. The specific aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of a life-simulation game in changing HIV testing, knowledge, and risk behaviors among AYA at risk for HIV.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SCREENING

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

300

Conditions

Hiv

Interventions

Mobile GameOTHER

An enhanced life-simulation prototype of a playable interactive game to increase HIV testing.

Mobile ApplicationOTHER

A mobile application that will include basic information on HIV basics (e.g., routes of transmission, data on the epidemiology of HIV among youth), prevention information, and information on HIV testing and PrEP, as well as a link to the HIV risk estimator, and HIV testing and PrEP locators.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 13 YearsMax age: 24 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * age 13-24 * self-reported HIV negative or unknown status * self-reported ever sexually active * resident of the DC metropolitan region which includes the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia for at least the next 6 months * Is able to provide informed consent or assent * able to complete all study procedures in English * has own mobile phones and be willing to use them for the study.

Locations (1)

George Washington University Milken School of Public Health

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

HIV testing

Self-reported HIV testing in the past 6 months

Time frame: prior 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

Intent to test for HIV

Intent to test will be assessed using a validated 6-point Likert scale

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

HIV knowledge

18-item scale

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

HIV risk perception and behaviors

8-item scale and perceived likelihood of getting infected (0-100%)

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

Knowledge of PrEP

Has participant heard of PrEP at specified time period

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

CDC risk estimator scores

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

Frequency of game use

Time frame: 1, 3, 6 months

PrEP screening

ever been screened for PrEP eligibility

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

PrEP use/uptake

been prescribed/taken PrEP

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

PrEP locator use

Number of linkages to PrEP locator

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

Duration of game use

Time frame: 1, 3, 6 months

Reasons for continued or discontinued use of game

Time frame: 1, 3, 6 months

HIV locator use

Number of linkage to HIV testing locator

Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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