Project SPACE (Study Pilot on Alcohol Construals Everyday)
Emory University
Summary
Project SPACE is a micro-randomized trial evaluating the proximal effects theory-based text messages on alcohol use and sexual HIV risk behaviors among HIV-negative young adult men at the day-level. At baseline, all participants will complete GamePlan, an existing brief online sexual health program. During the subsequent 8-week intervention period, participants will complete a brief morning assessment of the preceding day and will be randomized each afternoon, with equal probability, to receive concrete ("how"), abstract ("why"), neutral control, or no afternoon intervention messages. Participants will also complete pre- and post-intervention measures. The effects of GamePlan are not being separately evaluated in this study.
Description
Project SPACE will evaluate the proximal effects of different types of text messages on heavy drinking and HIV risk among young adult men. The study will evaluate the effects of the text messages on alcohol use and sexual HIV risk behaviors among young adult men. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of the text messages using responses obtained via online surveys and text messaging responses. The study will enroll up to 240 young adult men aged 18-30 who report heavy drinking and HIV risk behaviors. No minors or other vulnerable populations are targeted. Recruitment will occur online nat…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–30 years
- Sex
- Male
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Male sex at birth and currently identify with male gender * Own and use a smartphone that can receive text messages daily * Have tested negative for HIV in the past 24 months * Be willing to consider a change in their drinking behavior * Not currently in a sexually exclusive relationship * In the past three months, the subject must have had at least 3 condomless sexual encounters with men and consumes ≥5 standard alcoholic drinks at least once a week. Exclusion Criteria: * Involved in previous Project SPACE research (i.e., members of the Phase 1 community advisory boar…
Interventions
- BehavioralCLT- Concrete text messages
On participant-days assigned to this condition, participants will receive interactive CLT-concrete ('how'-based) text messages will involve asking participants questions about their alcohol use and sexual behaviors. Participants will receive 3 how-based questions related to alcohol and 3 how-based questions related to sexual behaviors (for a total of 6 questions). The messages will prompt participants to think concretely about actions and strategies related to reducing alcohol-related and sexual health risks.
- BehavioralCLT- Abstract text messages
On participant-days assigned to this condition, participants will receive interactive CLT-abstract ('why'-based) text messages will involve asking participants questions about their alcohol use and sexual behaviors. Participants will receive 3 why-based questions related to alcohol and 3 why-based questions related to sexual behaviors (for a total of 6 questions). The messages will prompt participants to think abstractly about their reasons, values, and broader goals related to reducing alcohol-related and sexual-health risks.
- BehavioralControl messages
On participant-days assigned to this condition, participants will receive interactive neutral messages will follow the same structure as intervention texts (CLT-texts), daily for 8 weeks, with having an initial question with 2 follow-up questions (i.e., 3 total questions). Control texts will be neutral (e.g., fun fact). Control messages will help enhance study rigor and rule out confounding due to any potential assessment reactivity to texts.
- Behavioral
Location
- Emory School of MedicineAtlanta, Georgia