Study Proposal for Web Based Intervention to Promote the Safe Usage of Dating Applications in Young Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

Interventions: Behavioral: Intervention - Dating application topic
Behavioral: Control - Health and exercise topic

Brief Summary: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a program in promoting the safe usage of dating applications amongst young adults in Hong Kong. One group will receive the program regarding dating applications and the other group will receive a placebo program regarding health and exercise.

Detailed Description: Dating applications are a popular platform to meet new people; however, they have been associated with risks such as unsafe sexual behavior and privacy concerns in young adults.

The study design is an open-labeled cluster randomized controlled trial with an intervention and a placebo control arm. The intervention group will receive a web-based intervention developed through focus group discussions, crowdsourcing contest, and a Peer-Vetted Creative Production (PVCP) workshop comprising of four short videos, a risk assessment tool, and a scenario game. The control group will receive a web-based resource with similar multimedia elements on health and exercise.

Based on the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model, the primary outcome of this study is self-efficacy in using dating applications measured by the General Self Efficacy Scale. Secondary outcomes include change in attitudes regarding risk perception measured by the Risk Propensity Scale and depression symptoms.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Have a physical impediment (e.g. blindness) to prevent them from accessing the content

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention - Dating application topic	Intervention - Dating application topic	The intervention will consist of four short videos with points of discussion, a scenario game, and a risk assessment tool regarding dating application usage.
Control - Health and exercise topic	Control - Health and exercise topic	The control will consist of four short videos with discussion points and an interaction game regarding exercise and healthy living tips.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self Efficacy: This Will be Measured by the General Self Efficacy Scale	8 months	The primary outcome will be the self-efficacy on the safe usage of dating. applications among young adults in Hong Kong. This will be measured by the General Self Efficacy Scale. The General Self Efficacy Scale is a 10-item scale (with 4 level Likert scale ranging from "not true at all" to "exactly true") measuring one's self-belief in completing certain tasks or overcoming difficulties. The total score is calculated by finding the sum of all items with the total score ranging between 10 and 40, with a higher score indicating a higher level of self efficacy.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Risk Taking Tendencies Will be Measured by the The Risk Propensity Scale.	8 month	Participants' risk taking tendencies will be measured by the The Risk Propensity Scale. It is a 9-item scale measuring general risk-taking tendencies. Each item is rated on a 9 level Likert scale (ranging from "totally disagree" to "totally agree") with the final score ranging from 1-9. A higher score indicates higher risk-taking tendencies.
Depression Symptoms Will be Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2).	8 month	Participants' risk of depression will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). This is a 2 item scale (with a 4 level Likert scale ranging from "Not at all" to "Nearly everyday") and the score ranges from 0-6, with a higher score indicating higher risk of depression.

Locations (2): Vocational Training Council (VTC)
🇭🇰
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Caritas Institute of Community Education
🇭🇰
Hong Kong, Hong Kong