Hypotheses
It’s hypothesised that, males receiving the web-based intervention 
are more inclined to show (i) less risky intimate behaviours, (ii) better effectiveness in and positive attitudes towards condom usage, and (iii) more and STI screening, in comparison to guys perhaps perhaps not getting the intervention that is web-based.
Techniques
Learn design
It really is a two-armed non-blinded randomised control test (RCT) design ( with a 6-month follow-up duration) may be adopted because of this research.
Individuals and sample size reason
A complete of 400 topics is going to be recruited for the RCT. According to an impact size of 0.3 (as reported in meta-analysis [33]), it is often determined that the test size for every combined team must certanly be 175 (for example. 350 as a whole) to realize 80% energy in detecting a between-group distinction using a separate t-test at a 0.05 importance degree. Presuming a projected 12.4% attrition rate (as reported in a RCT in a setting that is similar), an overall total of 400 subjects (i.e. 200 topics in each team) is essential.
To qualify for inclusion within the RCT, people needs to be i that is( MSM, (ii) cis male, (iii) aged 18 or above, (iv) present dating application users, (v) -negative, (vi) intimately active, and (vii) able to read through and realize Chinese.
Sampling frame
Numerous types of recruitment will be used. First, neighborhood non-governmental organisations that target the population that is MSM help to recruit individuals. Second, provided the high prevalence of dating app usage among college students based in the previous research [28], mass college e-mails and on-campus posters are going to be utilized to recruit potential individuals. Third, marketing materials will soon be published on social media and online discussion boards focusing on MSM. 4th, direct recruitment via dating apps will need place. Finally, snowballing will soon be utilized, with enrolled participants asked to invite possibly interested buddies to get in on the research.
On the web consent and enrolment
Individuals will enrol within the test through the intervention web site. an assessment questionnaire will be administered to make sure participant eligibility. Qualified participants will likely then be expected to sign a consent that is electronic and offer contact information. After these initial steps, individuals may be requested to accomplish a baseline questionnaire that is web-based.
Randomisation and allocation concealment
After completion of this standard questionnaire, individuals will likely be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or control group via computer-generated block randomisation (with blocks of size 4) on a 1:1 randomisation ratio; no stratification will likely to be used. Individuals are going to be immediately led to your content related to their allocation.
Intervention team
A participatory design approach can be used to produce the intervention. a qualitative research has been carried out to understand dating app users’ experience of using dating apps and participating in dangerous intimate behaviours and exploring what elements of intimate health training will tend to be appealing and engaging to the populace. The findings of this qualitative study will notify the intervention development.
The framework that is theoretical of intervention will undoubtedly be on the basis of the TPB. The aims for the intervention are to: (i) encourage a positive mindset towards constant condom use and /STI testing, and poor attitude towards chemsex and team sex; (ii) place condom use and regular /STI testing as normative; and (iii) improve sensed self-efficacy concerning condom usage and settlement and /STI testing. The intervention is likely to feature: (i) interactive elements, and (ii) other materials that are educational.
Control team
The control team will be involved in a web-based intervention without any health information that is sexual.
