The study is aimed to provide high-risk, HIV-infection, men who have sex with men (MSM) with healthcare education regarding viral hepatitis C, through either serious game intervention or traditional online health education. After the education, each participants will be followed for 48 weeks and the change of risky sexual behaviors, acquisition of HCV and other STIs will be followed during the study periods.
High-risk MSM living with HIV were participated in our study will be assigned (by randomization) to either: 1. Serious game intervention: 1 single session of serious game for the participants to play (estimation to take 25-40 minutes). Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related healthcare informations, including the severity of illness, route of transmission, preventive strategies and treatment options, would be embedded in the game. 2. Traditional online health education (reading materials): 1 single session of healthcare education regarding HCV (with similar contents) will be provided. After the healthcare intervention, each participants will be followed for 48 weeks. Assessment of risky sexual practice (by questionnaire), test of plasma HCV RNA and serological test of syphilis (optional), and detection of sexually-transmitted bacterial pathogens (optional) will be performed at the enrollment and then every 12 weeks during the observation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,320
Serious Game embedded with healthcare information regarding HCV and safe sexual practice.
Reading materials regarding HCV and safe sexual practice.
National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan
RECRUITINGHCV incidence
The incidence rate of HCV acquisition between both arms. HCV RNA would be tested for each participants every 3 months during follow-up, and the incidence rate is calculated as following: new cases of HCV viremia / person-time of follow-up.
Time frame: 48 weeks
STI incidence
The incidence of sexually-transmitted infection between both arms. Consultation and diagnosis of STI would be performed for each participants every 3 months during follow-up, and the incidence rate is calculated as following: new cases of STI / person-time of follow-up.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The frequency of condom use and sexualized drug use
The frequency engaging in condomless sex and the use of sexualized drugs (within the past 3 months) will be assessed for each participant at the enrollment, week 12, 24 , and 48. We would compare the change these behaviors at week 12, 24 and 48 to the baseline to see if there are difference between the two arms.
Time frame: At weeks 12, 24 and 48 of observation
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