NCT02008526

Theory-based Text Messaging to Reduce Methamphetamine Use and HIV Risks Among MSM

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 286 (actual)
• Sponsor: Friends Research Institute, Inc. · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Participants receive culturally relevant and specifically tailored text messages based on the behavioral change theoretical constructs of Social Support Theory, Health Belief Model, and Social Cognitive Theory. Participants are randomized into one of three conditions for an 8-week intervention period: Group 1: culturally relevant theory-based text messages interactively transmitted by peer health educators (TXT-PHE); or, Group 2: the same culturally relevant theory-based text messages transmitted by automation (TXT-Auto); or, Group 3: assessment-only (AO) control with no theoretically based text messages.

Detailed description

The randomized three-group design uses repeated assessments at baseline, at the end of the 8-week intervention period, and at 3-, 6-, and 9-month post randomization follow-up. Participants in all three conditions receive brief weekly text-message assessments on their methamphetamine use and HIV sexual behaviors in the previous seven days. This study will determine the differential immediate and sustained effects of transmitting theory-based text messages by PHE (TXT-PHE) versus by automation (TXT-Auto), compared to an assessment-only (AO) control condition among out-of-treatment, methamphetamine-using MSM for reductions of methamphetamine use and HIV sexual risk behaviors. It is hypothesized that there will be significantly greater reductions in methamphetamine use and HIV sexual risk behaviors from text messages transmitted by PHE than by text messages transmitted by automation, which in turn will produce significantly greater reductions than the AO condition (PHE \> TXT \> AO). In addition, this study will determine the cost-effectiveness of TXT-PHE vs. TXT-Auto compared to AO for reducing methamphetamine use and HIV sexual risk behaviors. The investigators hypothesize that the TXT-PHE intervention will prove more cost-effective than TXT-Auto in reducing methamphetamine use and HIV sexual risk behaviors, while the TXT-Auto condition will prove more cost effective than the AO condition in reducing these same outcomes (PHE \> TXT \> AO).

Conditions

• Methamphetamine Abuse
• HIV

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Text Messages Transmitted by Peer Health Educators (TXT-PHE)	Participants receive five gay-specific, theory-based pre-written messages per day sent on a predetermined schedule. Participants who respond to the pre-written text messages or initiate queries or requests for support ("pull") are sent additional real-time messages back from the PHE. Text messages are transmitted and responded to in real time, at the peak hours of high-risk activities. During the 8-week intervention, participants receive a brief weekly text-based assessment on their methamphetamine use and HIV sexual behaviors in the previous seven days.
BEHAVIORAL	Text Messages Transmitted by Automation (TXT-Auto)	Participants receive five gay-specific, theory-based pre-written messages per day sent on a predetermined schedule. During the 8-week intervention, participants receive a brief weekly text-based assessment on their methamphetamine use and HIV sexual behaviors in the previous seven days.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-01-01
• Primary completion: 2017-01-01
• Completion: 2017-01-01
• First posted: 2013-12-11
• Last updated: 2017-09-18
• Results posted: 2017-09-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States