NCT07741123

Brief Summary

This study tests a mobile application (app) designed to support sexual health and prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among young men in South Korea. Researchers are interested to learn if the app is acceptable, easy to use, and helpful for young men who have sex with men (MSM). Participants will complete a 15-minute online survey at the start of the study and another 15-minute survey 3 months later. Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 study groups for 3 months:

  1. 1.Intervention Group: Participants receive access to the full mobile app, called Bandi. The app includes health articles, quizzes, community discussion forums, a personal sexual health log, and a clinic finder.
  2. 2.Control Group: Participants receive access to a basic version of the app that includes informational articles and the clinic finder only.

Trial Health

63
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable hiv-infections

Timeline
10mo left

Started Sep 2026

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable hiv-infections

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 28, 2026

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 3, 2026

Completed
29 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2026

Expected
7 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 31, 2027

3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 30, 2027

Last Updated

August 3, 2026

Status Verified

July 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

7 months

First QC Date

July 28, 2026

Last Update Submit

July 28, 2026

Conditions

HIV InfectionsHIV Prevention and CareRisk Reduction BehaviorDigital Health

Keywords

south koreamsmmobile appsocial stigma

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Proportion of Participants Who Reported Receiving an HIV Test

    Self-reported status of receiving an HIV test (Yes/No) as assessed via a web-based survey.

    3 months post-randomization

  • Change in Frequency of Condomless Anal Intercourse (CAI)

    Self-reported number of condomless anal intercourse episodes with male partners in the prior 3 months, assessed via web-based survey.

    Baseline and 3 months post-randomization

Study Arms (2)

Bandi App (Full Access)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm receive full 3-month access to the complete Bandi mobile application. Key features include interactive health articles and quizzes, moderated peer community forums and polls, the Love Log (a sexual health self-monitoring tool), a HIV/STI care locator, and gamification elements (custom avatars and accomplishment badges).

Behavioral: Bandi Mobile Application (Full Access)

Information-Only App (Limited Access)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm receive 3-month access to a limited version of the mobile application. Features are restricted to static educational articles and a care locator.

Behavioral: Information-Only Mobile Application (Limited Access)

Interventions

Bandi Mobile Application (Full Access)BEHAVIORAL

A culturally adapted digital HIV prevention mobile application designed for young men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Korea. Participants receive 3-month access to five core integrated features: interactive health articles and quizzes (covering PrEP, adherence, and sexual health); moderated peer community discussion forums and polls; Love Log (a sexual health tracking and planning tool); Care Locator (a directory of local HIV/STI testing centers); and gamification elements (customizable avatars and badges).

Bandi App (Full Access)
Information-Only Mobile Application (Limited Access)BEHAVIORAL

A limited version of the mobile application provided to the control group over a 3-month period. Access is restricted to static online educational articles/resources and the Care Locator feature for finding local HIV/STI testing centers.

Information-Only App (Limited Access)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 35 Years
Sexmale(Gender-based eligibility)
Gender Eligibility DetailsCisgender
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Male sex assigned at birth and current male gender identity
  • Aged 18 to 35 years
  • Current residence in the Seoul Metropolitan area
  • Korean nationality
  • Self-identify as a sexual minority (e.g., gay, bisexual, queer, or other non-heterosexual identity)
  • HIV-negative or HIV-unaware serostatus
  • Report at least 1 episode of condomless anal intercourse with a male partner in the prior 6 months

You may not qualify if:

  • Assigned female at birth or do not currently identify as male
  • Younger than 18 or older than 35 years of age
  • Non-residence in the Seoul Metropolitan area
  • Do not hold Korean nationality
  • Do not identify as a sexual minority
  • Known HIV-positive status
  • No reported episodes of condomless anal intercourse with a male partner in the prior 6 months

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Ewha Womans University

Seoul, South Korea

Location

Related Publications (7)

  • Bauermeister JA, Muessig KE, Flores DD, LeGrand S, Choi S, Dong W, Harper GW, Hightow-Weidman LB. Stigma Diminishes the Protective Effect of Social Support on Psychological Distress Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men. AIDS Educ Prev. 2018 Oct;30(5):406-418. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2018.30.5.406.

    PMID: 30332312BACKGROUND

  • Yang HJ, Bang JH, Kim J, Lee YH, Park Y, Huh IS, Shin SM, Kang CR, Seong MH, Kim GD, Hong HS, Cho SI, Oh MD, Hwang ES, Lee JK. Factors associated with intention to be tested for HIV among men who have sex with men in a country with a very low HIV prevalence. AIDS Care. 2018 Mar;30(3):289-295. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1371666. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

    PMID: 28859484BACKGROUND

  • Sohn A, Cho B. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Sexual Behaviors in HIV/AIDS and Predictors Affecting Condom Use among Men Who Have Sex with Men in South Korea. Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2012 Sep;3(3):156-64. doi: 10.1016/j.phrp.2012.07.001.

    PMID: 24159508BACKGROUND

  • Muessig KE, Golinkoff JM, Hightow-Weidman LB, Rochelle AE, Mulawa MI, Hirshfield S, Rosengren AL, Aryal S, Buckner N, Wilson MS, Watson DL, Houang S, Bauermeister JA. Increasing HIV Testing and Viral Suppression via Stigma Reduction in a Social Networking Mobile Health Intervention Among Black and Latinx Young Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex With Men (HealthMpowerment): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2020 Dec 16;9(12):e24043. doi: 10.2196/24043.

    PMID: 33325838BACKGROUND

  • Lee H, Park J, Choi B, Yi H, Kim SS. Association between Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms Among 2,162 Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in South Korea: Does Community Connectedness Modify the Association? J Homosex. 2021 Jan 2;68(1):70-87. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2019.1624456. Epub 2019 Jun 13.

    PMID: 31194923BACKGROUND

  • Baek YJ, Sung K, Park S, Lee EJ, Youm Y, Choi JY. Closing the Gap in Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Access for Sexual and Gender Minorities in South Korea: Implications for HIV Prevention Policy. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2026 Jul;40(6-7):231-239. doi: 10.1177/10872914261450671. Epub 2026 May 18.

    PMID: 42145104BACKGROUND

  • Choi SK, Golinkoff J, Lin WY, Hightow-Weidman L, Muessig K, Bauermeister J. Current and Future Perspectives of HIV Prevention Research Among Young Sexual Minority Men in South Korea. Arch Sex Behav. 2023 Feb;52(2):721-732. doi: 10.1007/s10508-022-02403-7. Epub 2022 Sep 12.

    PMID: 36097068BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

HIV InfectionsRisk Reduction BehaviorSocial Stigma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Blood-Borne InfectionsCommunicable DiseasesInfectionsSexually Transmitted Diseases, ViralSexually Transmitted DiseasesLentivirus InfectionsRetroviridae InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsVirus DiseasesGenital DiseasesUrogenital DiseasesImmunologic Deficiency SyndromesImmune System DiseasesBehaviorSocial Behavior

Study Officials

  • Seul Ki Choi, MPH, PhD

    University of Pennsylvania

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Willey Lin, MBIOT, PMP, ACRP-CP

CONTACT

669-333-9925willey@nursing.upenn.edu

Seul Ki Choi, MPH, PhD

CONTACT

215-573-4734skchoi@nursing.upenn.edu

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Research Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 28, 2026

First Posted

August 3, 2026

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2027

Last Updated

August 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

To protect participant privacy under local and international regulations-including South Korea's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and IRB protocols-individual participant data will not be publicly shared. The study involves sensitive sexual health data among a vulnerable population, and local regulatory restrictions prohibit the open release or cross-border sharing of raw individual participant records.

Locations

KR(1)