Efficacy Trial of Life Simulation Game to Routinize Adolescent HIV Testing

NCT04917575 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: NCR191708
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Hiv

Keywords

HIV prevention; HIV testing; mHealth; Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); adolescents; interactive technology

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• HIV testing

  Self-reported HIV testing in the past 6 months

  prior 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Intent to test for HIV

  baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

• HIV knowledge

  baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

• HIV risk perception and behaviors

  baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

• Knowledge of PrEP

  baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

• CDC risk estimator scores

  baseline, 1, 3, 6 months

Study Arms (2)

Mobile Game

EXPERIMENTAL

An enhanced life-simulation prototype of a playable interactive game to increase HIV testing, risk assessment tool, and HIV and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) locators embedded within the game.

Other: Mobile Game

Mobile Application

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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 on HIV testing and PrEP, as well as a link to the HIV risk estimator, and HIV testing and PrEP locators.

Other: Mobile Application

Interventions

Mobile Game OTHER

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

Mobile Game

Mobile Application OTHER

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.

Mobile Application

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• George Washington University: lead
• Media Rez: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

George Washington University Milken School of Public Health

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20052, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Castel AD, Wilbourn B, Trexler C, D'Angelo LD, Greenberg D. A Digital Gaming Intervention to Improve HIV Testing for Adolescents and Young Adults: Protocol for Development and a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2021 Jun 24;10(6):e29792. doi: 10.2196/29792.

  PMID: 34185022 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

HIV Infections; Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Slow Virus Diseases; Genital Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Immune System Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SCREENING
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 20, 2021
• First Posted: June 8, 2021
• Study Start: June 24, 2021
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2024
• Study Completion: October 31, 2024
• Last Updated: August 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

US (1)