Evaluating a Digital Sexual Assertiveness Intervention for ASMM

Indiana University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Sexual Assault; Condomless Sex

Treatments: Other: Healthy Minds; Other: Promoting Assertive Communication among Teens (PACT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06878755

20740

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness, likability, and implementation potential of PACT, an adapted digital program to teach non-heterosexual adolescent boys about sexual consent and condom negotiation in a randomized controlled trial over 9 months.

Full description

Because the PACT (Promoting Affirmative Consent among Teens) digital health intervention showed evidence of effectiveness at improving sexual consent cognitions in its first trial, and was found generally likable among adolescents, the research team has adapted the program to serve as sexual assertiveness (consent and condom negotiation) training. This adapted version is tailored to the specific needs of adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM), a population that has been historically underserved by traditional sex education while also experiencing disproportionately high rates of both sexual violence victimization and condom non-use. The evaluation of the adapted PACT program (now titled Promoting Assertive Communication among Teens) will take place in an RCT with a Type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid design. Surveys will be administered at pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, and 9-month follow-up. The investigators will assess acceptability, implementation factors, and main and secondary outcomes related to consent and condom negotiation/use.

Enrollment: 300 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 14 to 17 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 14-17 years old
• lives in the U.S.
• identifies as a queer teen guy or sexual minority male

Exclusion criteria

• younger than 14
• older than 17
• does not live in U.S.
• does not identify as a queer teen guy or sexual minority male

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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300 participants in 2 patient groups

Promoting Assertive Communication among Teens (PACT)

Experimental group

Description:

A 30-minute digital program designed to teach adolescent sexual minority males information and skills regarding two dimensions of sexual assertiveness: consent and condom negotiation.

Treatment:

Other: Promoting Assertive Communication among Teens (PACT)

Healthy Minds

Active Comparator group

Description:

An attention-matched digital program focused on growth mindsets and mental health, designed for a general population of adolescents.

Treatment:

Other: Healthy Minds