Pilot-testing a Multiplayer HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Video Game Intervention for Black...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Adolescent Sexual Health

Background:

• Black adolescent girls face higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) compared to White girls.
• Early intervention is crucial due to the increased risk of HIV acquisition associated with STIs.
• Web-based multiplayer games offer a novel approach to engage this demographic and leverage peer influence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a multiplayer game intervention.
• To empower Black adolescent girls in making informed decisions about sexual health, relationships, and reducing HIV/STI risk.
• To evaluate the intervention's impact on HIV/STI testing rates and condom use.

Main Methods:

• Enrolled 79 Black adolescent girls (ages 14-19) in a 2-arm parallel RCT conducted entirely online.
• Intervention group played a theory-based, community-informed multiplayer web game; control group received a resource list.
• Assessed outcomes including HIV/STI testing, condom use, self-efficacy, knowledge, and sexual risk behaviors at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• 79 participants were enrolled between February and April 2022, with 40 in the intervention and 39 in the control arm.
• Participant ages ranged from 14 to 19 years, with a mean age of 16.4.
• Intervention feasibility and acceptability data were collected alongside efficacy measures.

Conclusions:

• Web-accessible game interventions can overcome barriers to traditional face-to-face approaches for Black adolescent girls.
• This approach presents a unique opportunity to enhance sexual health and self-efficacy in this population.
• Findings will inform future web-based studies and a larger RCT to improve sexual health outcomes.