The Notijoves Project: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial About New Communication Technologies and Gamification to Promote Partner Notification of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young People

Dolors Carnicer-Pont; Eva Loureiro-Varela; Josep Mª Manresa; Montse Martinez; Àngels Avecilla; Laura Montero-Pons; Gemma Falguera-Puig

doi:10.2196/12896

The Notijoves Project: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial About New Communication Technologies and Gamification to Promote Partner Notification of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young People

JMIR Res Protoc. 2019 May 26;8(6):e12896. doi: 10.2196/12896.

Authors

Dolors Carnicer-Pont¹, Eva Loureiro-Varela², Josep Mª Manresa^{3

4}, Montse Martinez⁵, Àngels Avecilla⁶, Laura Montero-Pons⁷, Gemma Falguera-Puig⁸

Affiliations

¹ Cancer Prevention and Control Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
² Informatics Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
³ Research Suport Unit, Metropolitana Nord, Primary Health Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain, Spain.
⁴ Nursing Department, Authonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
⁵ ASSIR Cerdanyola del Vallès, Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain.
⁶ Badalona Assistential Services, Badalona, Spain.
⁷ ASSIR Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain.
⁸ ASSIR Sabadell, Metropolitana, Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain, Spain.

PMID: 31199306
PMCID: PMC6595938
DOI: 10.2196/12896

Abstract

Background: An increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as an increase in the use of new information and communication technologies among young people in Catalonia is the inspiration behind the idea of designing a smartphone app to promote partner notification of STIs.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to design a Web-based tool adapted to smartphones for partner notification of STIs among youth who are 16 to 24 years old. Additionally, the objective is to evaluate the Web-based tool's role in increasing the patient referral partner notification.

Methods: This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial with a proportional stratification of the sample by center and random allocation of participants to the 3 arms of the study (simple Web-based intervention, game Web-based intervention, and control). This study is being conducted by midwives, gynecologists, and physicians in the sexual and reproductive areas of the primary health care centers.

Results: The primary outcome measure is the number and proportion of partner notifications. Additional outcome measures are the yield of early diagnosis and treatment of those exposed and infected, acceptability, barriers, and preferences for partner notification. Expected results include an increase in the yield of partner notification, early diagnosis and treatment among youth using Web-based interventions compared with those receiving the traditional advice to notify, and a description of sexual networks among those participating in the study.

Conclusions: The Notijoves is expected to have a sustainable positive impact in the partner notification practice among youth and contribute to increasing the awareness of STI prevention.

International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/12896.

Keywords: game theory; games, experimental; mobile apps; partner notification; randomized controlled trial; sexually transmitted infections; youth.

©Dolors Carnicer-Pont, Eva Loureiro-Varela, Josep Mª Manresa, Montse Martinez, Àngels Avecilla, Laura Montero-Pons, Gemma Falguera-Puig. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 26.05.2019.