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

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 10; no. 4; p. e033855
• Main Authors: Tan, Rayner Kay Jin, Koh, Wee Ling, Le, Daniel, Tan, Avin, Tyler, Adrian, Tan, Calvin, Banerjee, Sumita, Wong, Chen Seong, Wong, Mee-Lian, Chio, Martin Tze-Wei, Chen, Mark I-Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 07.04.2020; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Protocol
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Advertising campaigns; Bisexuality; Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis; Criminalization; Drama; Education; Epidemiology; Gonorrhea - diagnosis; Health Education - methods; HIV; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Seronegativity; HIV Testing; Homophobia; Homosexuality, Male; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infections; Intention; Internet; Intervention; Male; Medical tests; Mens health; Motion Pictures; Pragmatic Clinical Trials as Topic; Public health; Sample Size; Self Report; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Sexual Health; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - diagnosis; Singapore - epidemiology; Social marketing; Social networks; Syphilis - diagnosis; Young Adult; Singapore; Asia; Vietnam; social medicine; epidemiology; HIV & AIDS; public health; infectious diseases
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033855

IntroductionGay, bisexual and queer (GBQ) men are at disproportionately higher risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). While HIV/STI testing rates among GBQ men are increasing worldwide, they remain suboptimal in a variety of settings.Methods and analysisThe study is a pragmatic randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate an online video series developed by a community-based organisation in Singapore for GBQ men. A total of 300 HIV-negative GBQ men in Singapore aged 18–29 years old will be recruited for this study. Participants will subsequently be randomised into the intervention arm (n=150) and the control arm (n=150). The intervention arm (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. Participants should also not have watched the video prior to their participation in this study, which will be ascertained through a questionnaire. Primary outcomes for this evaluation are changes in self-reported intention to test for, actual testing for and regularity of testing for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea at the 3 and 6 months after intervention. Secondary outcomes include changes in self-reported risk perception for HIV and other STIs, knowledge of HIV, knowledge of risks associated with acquiring STIs, knowledge of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, consistent condom use for anal sex with casual partners, incidence of STIs, connectedness to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, self-concealment of sexual orientation, perceived homophobia, internalised homophobia, HIV testing self-efficacy and HIV testing social norms.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the National University of Singapore Institutional Review Board (S-19-059) and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and disseminated to community-based organisations and policymakers.Trial registration numberNCT04021953