The People Like Us Evaluation Study

NCT04021953 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: S-19-059
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The study is a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial design to evaluate an online video series developed by a community-based organization in Singapore for gay, bisexual and queer men. A total of 300 HIV-negative, gay, bisexual and queer men in Singapore aged 18 to 29 years old will be recruited with the assistance of the partner community-based organization (CBO), Action for AIDS Singapore. Recruitment will utilize both online and offline channels, and with the help of other CBOs in Singapore. Participants should also not have watched the video prior to their participation in this study, which will be ascertained through a questionnaire. Participants will subsequently be randomized into the intervention arm (n=150) and the control arm (n=150). The treatment group (n=150) will be assigned the intervention along with sexual health information via a pamphlet, while the control group (n=150) will be assigned only the sexual health information via a pamphlet. This will be conducted through block randomization.

Conditions

HIV/AIDS; Sexually Transmitted Infection; Homosexuality; Health Behavior; Stigma, Social; Health Care Seeking Behavior

Keywords

HIV Testing; STI Testing; Homophobia; eHealth; Singapore

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (18)

• Change in intention to test for HIV at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "How likely are you to get tested for HIV in the next three months?"; to which they may respond: 1. Extremely unlikely to get tested 2. Very unlikely to get tested 3. Somewhat unlikely to get tested 4. Somewhat likely to get tested 5. Very likely to get tested 6. Extremely likely to get tested

  3 months

• Change in intention to test for HIV at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "How likely are you to get tested for HIV in the next three months?"; to which they may respond: 1. Extremely unlikely to get tested 2. Very unlikely to get tested 3. Somewhat unlikely to get tested 4. Somewhat likely to get tested 5. Very likely to get tested 6. Extremely likely to get tested

  6 months

• Change in intention to test for Syphilis at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "How likely are you to get tested for Syphilis in the next three months?"; to which they may respond: 1. Extremely unlikely to get tested 2. Very unlikely to get tested 3. Somewhat unlikely to get tested 4. Somewhat likely to get tested 5. Very likely to get tested 6. Extremely likely to get tested

  3 months

• Change in intention to test for Syphilis at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "How likely are you to get tested for Syphilis in the next three months?"; to which they may respond: 1. Extremely unlikely to get tested 2. Very unlikely to get tested 3. Somewhat unlikely to get tested 4. Somewhat likely to get tested 5. Very likely to get tested 6. Extremely likely to get tested

  6 months

• Change in intention to test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "How likely are you to get tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea in the next three months?"; to which they may respond: 1. Extremely unlikely to get tested 2. Very unlikely to get tested 3. Somewhat unlikely to get tested 4. Somewhat likely to get tested 5. Very likely to get tested 6. Extremely likely to get tested

  3 months

• Change in intention to test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "How likely are you to get tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea in the next three months?"; to which they may respond: 1. Extremely unlikely to get tested 2. Very unlikely to get tested 3. Somewhat unlikely to get tested 4. Somewhat likely to get tested 5. Very likely to get tested 6. Extremely likely to get tested

  6 months

• HIV testing at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "When did you go for you last (most recent) voluntary HIV test?"; to which they may respond: 1. Never 2. In the last 3 months 3. In the last 6 months 4. 6 to 12 months ago 5. More than 1 year ago

  3 months

• HIV testing at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "When did you go for you last (most recent) voluntary HIV test?"; to which they may respond: 1. Never 2. In the last 3 months 3. In the last 6 months 4. 6 to 12 months ago 5. More than 1 year ago

  6 months

• Syphilis testing at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "When did you go for you last (most recent) voluntary Syphilis test?"; to which they may respond: 1. Never 2. In the last 3 months 3. In the last 6 months 4. 6 to 12 months ago 5. More than 1 year ago

  3 months

• Syphilis testing at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "When did you go for you last (most recent) voluntary Syphilis test?"; to which they may respond: 1. Never 2. In the last 3 months 3. In the last 6 months 4. 6 to 12 months ago 5. More than 1 year ago

  6 months

• Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "When did you go for you last (most recent) voluntary Chlamydia or Gonorrhea test?"; to which they may respond: 1. Never 2. In the last 3 months 3. In the last 6 months 4. 6 to 12 months ago 5. More than 1 year ago

  3 months

• Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "When did you go for you last (most recent) voluntary Chlamydia or Gonorrhea test?"; to which they may respond: 1. Never 2. In the last 3 months 3. In the last 6 months 4. 6 to 12 months ago 5. More than 1 year ago

  6 months

• Self-reported regularity of HIV testing at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "On average, how regularly do you test for HIV?"; to which they may respond: 1. I do not test regularly 2. Once every few years 3. Once a year 4. Once every 6 months 5. Once every 3 months 6. Once a month

  3 months

• Self-reported regularity of HIV testing at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "On average, how regularly do you test for HIV?"; to which they may respond: 1. I do not test regularly 2. Once every few years 3. Once a year 4. Once every 6 months 5. Once every 3 months 6. Once a month

  6 months

• Self-reported regularity of Syphilis testing at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "On average, how regularly do you test for Syphilis?"; to which they may respond: 1. I do not test regularly 2. Once every few years 3. Once a year 4. Once every 6 months 5. Once every 3 months 6. Once a month

  3 months

• Self-reported regularity of Syphilis testing at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "On average, how regularly do you test for Syphilis?"; to which they may respond: 1. I do not test regularly 2. Once every few years 3. Once a year 4. Once every 6 months 5. Once every 3 months 6. Once a month

  6 months

• Self-reported regularity of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing at 3 months

  Participants are asked: "On average, how regularly do you test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?"; to which they may respond: 1. I do not test regularly 2. Once every few years 3. Once a year 4. Once every 6 months 5. Once every 3 months 6. Once a month

  3 months

• Self-reported regularity of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing at 6 months

  Participants are asked: "On average, how regularly do you test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?"; to which they may respond: 1. I do not test regularly 2. Once every few years 3. Once a year 4. Once every 6 months 5. Once every 3 months 6. Once a month

  6 months

Secondary Outcomes (13)

• Risk perception for HIV

  3 months and 6 months

• Risk perception for other sexually transmitted infections

  3 months and 6 months

• Knowledge of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

  3 months and 6 months

• Knowledge of risks associated with acquiring other sexually transmitted infections

  3 months and 6 months

• Knowledge of HIV

  3 months and 6 months

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The online intervention comprises a series of six videos, each about 10-minutes in length, entitled the People Like Us series. The intervention was developed by gayhealth.sg and Action for AIDS Singapore in 2018. The series follow the love and sex lives of four ethnically-diverse GBQ men of varying socioeconomic backgrounds, as they negotiate issues of sexual health, mental health, and relationships throughout the six-part miniseries. The intervention group will also be provided with an e-pamphlet on sexual wellness catered to GBMSM. This e-pamphlet has been developed by the National Skin Centre and Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic specifically for information on sexual wellness among GBMSM. It comprises segments on HIV/STI symptoms, etiology, information on how to seek help for HIV/STI, behavioral and biomedical methods of HIV prevention.

Behavioral: People Like Us Online Video Series Intervention; Behavioral: Sexual Health Pamphlet (Standard of Care)

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The control group will be provided with an e-pamphlet on sexual wellness catered to GBMSM. This e-pamphlet has been developed by the National Skin Centre and Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic specifically for information on sexual wellness among GBMSM. It comprises segments on HIV/STI symptoms, etiology, information on how to seek help for HIV/STI, behavioral and biomedical methods of HIV prevention.

Behavioral: Sexual Health Pamphlet (Standard of Care)

Interventions

People Like Us Online Video Series Intervention BEHAVIORAL

People Like Us miniseries incorporates key sexual health messages to: 1. Increase viewers' knowledge and perceptions of HIV and other STI risk; 2. Address homophobia and sexual orientation disclosure; 3. Increase safer-sex negotiation self-efficacy; 4. Promote positive attitudes towards condom use and other safe sex behaviors; 5. Build skills and self-efficacy for practicing safer sex; 6. Provide information on HIV and other STI testing and its benefits; 7. Provide information on resources for HIV/STI testing and other mental health services; 8. Model appropriate behaviors around practicing safer sex. Each video in the six-part series ends with an educational video segment featuring the managers of Action for AIDS and Gayhealth.sg, who provide a brief synopsis of the episode and cover key points relevant to mental and sexual health for GBQ men.

Intervention Group

Sexual Health Pamphlet (Standard of Care) BEHAVIORAL

The control group will be provided with an e-pamphlet on sexual wellness catered to GBMSM. This e-pamphlet has been developed by the National Skin Centre and Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic specifically for information on sexual wellness among GBMSM. It comprises segments on HIV/STI symptoms, etiology, information on how to seek help for HIV/STI, behavioral and biomedical methods of HIV prevention.

Control Group; Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 29 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Self-identified Male gender (regardless of sex assigned at birth)
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Self-reported HIV-negative status, or unsure of HIV status
• Self-reported gay, bisexual or queer sexual orientation
• Self-reported male gender, regardless of sex assigned at birth
• Self-reported age of 18 to 29 years old at point of recruitment
• Singapore citizen or permanent resident at the point of recruitment
• Self-reported as never having watched an online video drama series by Gayhealth.sg or Action for AIDS in the last year

You may not qualify if:

• Participants who have watched the People Like Us Series prior to study
• Participants who have self-reported being HIV-positive
• Participants who are not English-literate
• Participants aged below 18 or above 29 at baseline recruitment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National University of Singapore: lead
• National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore: collaborator
• Action for AIDS Singapore: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

National University of Singapore

Singapore, Singapore

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Tan RKJ, Koh WL, Le D, Banerjee S, Chio MT, Chan RKW, Wong CM, Tai BC, Wong ML, Cook AR, Chen MI, Wong CS. Effect of a Popular Web Drama Video Series on HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in Singapore: Community-Based, Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2022 May 6;24(5):e31401. doi: 10.2196/31401.

  PMID: 35522470 DERIVED

• Tan RKJ, Koh WL, Le D, Tan A, Tyler A, Tan C, Banerjee S, Wong CS, Wong ML, Chio MT, Chen MI. Effect of a web drama video series on HIV and other sexually transmitted infection testing among gay, bisexual and queer men: study protocol for a community-based, pragmatic randomised controlled trial in Singapore: the People Like Us (PLU) Evaluation Study. BMJ Open. 2020 Apr 7;10(4):e033855. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033855.

  PMID: 32269026 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Homosexuality; Health Behavior; Social Stigma; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Homophobia

Interventions

Standard of Care

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

HIV Infections; Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Slow Virus Diseases; Genital Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Immune System Diseases; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Sexuality; Sexual Behavior; Behavior; Social Behavior; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Prejudice; Social Discrimination

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Quality Indicators, Health Care; Quality of Health Care; Health Services Administration; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation

Study Officials

• Rayner Kay Jin Tan, B.Soc.Sci

  National University of Singapore

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2019
• First Posted: July 16, 2019
• Study Start: October 13, 2019
• Primary Completion: July 6, 2020
• Study Completion: July 6, 2020
• Last Updated: September 1, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SG (1)