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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

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

Conditions
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Sex, Unsafe, Adolescent Behavior, Behavior, Sex

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Intervention - Dating application topic
* Behavioral: Control - Health and exercise topic


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 17 Years
Maximum Age: 27 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention - Dating application topic<br>The intervention will consist of four short videos with points of discussion, a scenario game, and a risk assessment tool regarding dating application usage. | Behavioral: Intervention - Dating application topic<br>* 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.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Control - Health and exercise topic<br>The control will consist of four short videos with discussion points and an interaction game regarding exercise and healthy living tips. | Behavioral: Control - Health and exercise topic<br>* The placebo control will consist of multimedia content regarding exercise and healthy living. It will be delivered once-time in a classroom setting.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self Efficacy: This Will be Measured by the General Self Efficacy Scale | 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. | 8 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Risk Taking Tendencies Will be Measured by the The Risk Propensity Scale. | 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. | 8 month | 
| Depression Symptoms Will be Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). | 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. | 8 month | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Peer-led, dating applications, young adults, sexual behavior