Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2025

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

Published on: January 27, 2019

Digital strategies and behavior change techniques for preventing sexually transmitted infections: Protocol for an

Giuliano Duarte¹, Susana Sanduvete-Chaves², Daniel López-Arenas²

¹Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.

|March 10, 2025

Abstract

Introduction:

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a leading cause of premature mortality, with unsafe sex as a predominant risk factor. Changing risky sexual behaviors and adopting healthy habits is key to preventing STIs, including HIV, essential for public health. Technological advances in digital interventions have revealed significant opportunities, and systematic reviews have evaluated their effectiveness. These digital interventions, using technologies such as mobile phones, apps, and wearable devices, have shown great potential to reduce STIs, particularly among young people, who are a key population for their implementation.

Objective:

This protocol aims to describe in advance a systematic review intended to gather, evaluate, and synthesize the available evidence on digital behavior change interventions for STI prevention. In particular, it seeks to identify the most effective behavior change techniques to guide the design of evidence-based interventions that contribute to reducing STIs.

Methods:

This protocol outlines a review of systematic reviews. The methodological quality of the included reviews will be assessed using the AMSTAR-2 tool, following the PRISMA-P guidelines. Comprehensive searches will be conducted in Cochrane, PubMed, Epistemonikos, and PsycINFO. The inclusion criteria will focus on systematic reviews evaluating the effect of digital behavior change interventions for STI prevention, covering technologies such as mobile phones, apps, and websites. Data extraction will identify key components using the Behavior Change Techniques Taxonomy version 1 (BCTTv1). The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023485887).

Expected Results:

This review is expected to provide theoretical insights into behavior change in STI prevention through digital interventions, identifying the most effective techniques. These findings will help design scalable, evidence-based interventions, aimed especially at youth, and guide policymakers in implementing more effective strategies to reduce STI transmission around the world.

Keywords:

Behavioral change HIV behavioral design digital behavior change intervention (DBCI)sexually transmitted diseases

More Related Videos

Fabrication and Characterization of Griffithsin-modified Fiber Scaffolds for Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Fabrication and Characterization of Griffithsin-modified Fiber Scaffolds for Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Published on: October 31, 2017

Preparing Irradiated and Marked Male Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes for Release in an Operational Sterile Insect Technique Program

Preparing Irradiated and Marked Male Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes for Release in an Operational Sterile Insect Technique Program

Published on: March 12, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...

Infection

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI

Adopting a healthier lifestyle often requires overcoming significant challenges, but leveraging psychological, social, and cultural resources can facilitate meaningful change. Effective self-change hinges on understanding and applying key tools such as motivation and goal setting, which help sustain efforts toward long-term health benefits.
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...

Hand hygiene

Hand hygiene

Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...

Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Health promotion allows a person to control the determinants of health, resulting in an improved health status. It enhances the quality of life and reduces premature deaths. Health promotion and illness prevention programs help people make beneficial choices to reduce the risk of disease and disabilities. There are three health promotion and illness prevention levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

An introduction to the methodological corpus of systematic observation and its quality assessment.

Behavior research methods·2026

Convergent and Discriminant Validity Evidence of the Methodological Quality Scale for Studies Based on Observational Methodology (MQSOM).

The Spanish journal of psychology·2026

De-implementing inappropriate benzodiazepine prescribing in primary care: an overview of systematic reviews informed by behavioral frameworks.

Implementation science communications·2026

Behavioral Determinants and Effectiveness of Digital Behavior Change Interventions for the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV: Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Journal of medical Internet research·2026

Overview of systematic reviews on behavioral determinants of physical activity and healthy eating in schoolchildren.

Scientific reports·2025

A Scale for Evaluating the Methodological Quality of Studies Based on Observational Methodology.

Psicothema·2025

See all related articles