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HIV Prevention ProgramNCT05044013

Testing of the Smartphone App to Enhance HIV Prevention Cascade Among Malaysian MSM

A study testing Full access to JomPrEP app and inactivated JomPrEP app in people with HIV Prevention Program, run by University of Connecticut at 1 site in Malaysia.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The investigators will conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the JomPrEP app and examine its preliminary efficacy in improving PrEP cascade compared with the control group. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
HIV Prevention Program
What is being tested?
Full access to JomPrEP app and inactivated JomPrEP app
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
90 participants
Where
1 siteMalaysia
Study dates
15 Nov 2023to 12 Jul 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Men only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • HIV-negative MSM
  • Age more than or equal to 18
  • Cis-gender men
  • Condomless sex in the last 30 days
  • Own a smartphone

Who cannot join

  • Unable to provide informed consent
  • Unable to read and understand English or Bahasa Malaysia

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Malaysia1 site
  • Centre of Excellence For Research in AIDS (CERiA)

    Kuala Lumpur

Other trials in Malaysia

About this study

Official title: Training in mHealth Prevention With MSM

The investigators will conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the JomPrEP app and examine its preliminary efficacy in improving PrEP cascade compared with the control group.

Read the detailed description

mHealth is a promising and cost-effective strategy to reach stigmatized and hard-to-reach populations and link them to care. Leveraging mHealth reduces individuals' discomfort and distrust of disclosing risk behaviors to providers, providers' low cultural competency for working with individuals of diverse sexual identities, and bypasses barriers to care for marginalized populations, - all features crucial for HIV prevention in MSM in Malaysia. Results from the investigators' studies show Malaysian MSM often do not get HIV tested or initiate PrEP. Mixed methods suggest MSM want these services but prefer a streamlined system to access them that reduces interaction with clinicians where disclosure and perceived judgment occurs. mHealth may overcome these barriers by facilitating prevention services delivery and health decision-making in a confidential, less-stigmatizing, and convenient manner. Overall smartphone growth in Malaysia (63% in 2015 to 89% in 2017), and the investigators' parallel work with MSM indicates that nearly all (>97%) MSM own a smartphone. Findings from qualitative interviews with MSM further indicate preferences for interfacing with 'apps' rather than health professionals as well as local stakeholders indicating strong interest in using such platform to deliver HIV prevention services align with developing culturally tailored mHealth strategies and to engage MSM in virtual communication with providers - all embedded within one app.

To the investigators' knowledge however, no mHealth intervention has been developed to improve access to HIV prevention services in Malaysia. The investigators, therefore, propose to pilot test their new clinic-affiliated app (JomPrEP) to promote HIV testing and PrEP uptake in Malaysian MSM. They will conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the JomPrEP app and examine its preliminary efficacy in improving PrEP cascade compared with the control group.

The investigators will enroll 90 participants who will be randomized (1:1) to receive either the JomPrEP app or the control group and assessed at 3- and 6-months. Randomization will be stratified by ATS use (16% to 24%) and age. They will conduct exit interviews with participants and clinical staff to examine the barriers and facilitators to the app and obtain feedback to further optimize the app.

Being tested
Full access to JomPrEP app, inactivated JomPrEP app
Keywords
mobile application, PrEP, mHealth

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Full access to JomPrEP appOther

    All participants will receive the JomPrEP app with access to all of its features which include: customizable page (using avatars and pseudonyms); visual dashboard (track and visualize progress); HIV testing plan (create plan for HIV testing, order self-testing kits, testing site locator); PrEP Care Plan (PrEPxpress, automated reminders for follow-up care, labs, delivery); chat function and discussion forum; tailored messages and reminders; assessment center (weekly assessment on adherence to PrEP, HIV risk, mood); knowledge center (resources on HIV testing and PrEP); Mental health support (screen for P/SUD, counseling feedback, referral to support services); Integration of provider locator (provides users with a GPS enabled map for PrEP and mental health support providers in Malaysia) and Gamification (offers extrinsic motivation by rewarding points/milestones for doing activities within the app). Participants can also contact the RA using the chat function for support.

  • inactivated JomPrEP appOther

    Only information and resources for PrEP services will be available along with access to risk assessment tools.

Study groups in NCT05044013
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
JomPrEP App GroupExperimentalParticipants in the JomPrEP group will be provided with full app access and will be encouraged to use all features of the app.
Receives: Other: Full access to JomPrEP app
Control GroupActive comparatorParticipants in the control group will receive the JomPrEP app with major intervention features inactivated.
Receives: Other: inactivated JomPrEP app

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Feasibility of the JomPrEP app using percentages of individuals screened

    The investigators will use the percentage of individuals screened to determine the feasibility of the JomPrEP app

    Measured: 6 months

  2. Feasibility of the JomPrEP app using percentages of individuals eligible

    The investigators will use the percentage of individuals eligible to determine the feasibility of the JomPrEP app

    Measured: 6 months

  3. Feasibility of the JomPrEP app using percentages of individuals enrolled

    The investigators will use the percentage of individuals enrolled to determine the feasibility of the JomPrEP app

    Measured: 6 months

  4. Feasibility of the JomPrEP app using percentages of individuals retained

    The investigators will use the percentage of individuals retained to determine the feasibility of the JomPrEP app

    Measured: 6 months

  5. Feasibility of the JomPrEP app using the percentage of participants that accessed the app

    The investigators will determine the percentage of participants that accessed the app, with ≥60% of participants accessing app as lower threshold. The higher the percentage, the higher the feasibility.

    Measured: 6 months

  6. Acceptability of the JomPrEP app based on the subjective usability measure

    Acceptability will be based on descriptive statistics from the subjective usability measure, with a target mean score of ≥ 50. The higher the score, the higher the acceptability. Minimum score for the scale is 0, highest is 100.

    Measured: 6 months

  7. Acceptability of the JomPrEP app based on perceived usefulness of participants assessed in qualitative interviews

    Acceptability will be based on analysis of qualitative data which includes specific areas of perceived usefulness of the app.

    Measured: 6 months

  8. Acceptability of the JomPrEP app based on barriers and facilitators identifies by participants in qualitative interviews

    Acceptability will be based on analysis of qualitative data which includes barriers and facilitators.

    Measured: 6 months

  9. Acceptability of the JomPrEP app based on usability concerns identified by participants in qualitative interviews

    Acceptability will be based on analysis of qualitative data which includes usability concerns.

    Measured: 6 months

  10. Acceptability of the JomPrEP app based on refinement feedback identified by participants in qualitative data interviews

    Acceptability will be based on analysis of qualitative data which includes refinement needed to maximize future implementation.

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Preliminary Efficacy of the JomPrEP app through dried blood spot testing as PrEP adherence measure

    The investigators will measure PrEP adherence (using dried blood spots) at 3 months. DBS will quantify tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) and emtricitabine-triphosphate (FTC-TP) in RBC.

    Measured: 3 months

  2. Preliminary Efficacy of the JomPrEP app through dried blood spot testing as PrEP adherence measure

    The investigators will measure PrEP adherence (using dried blood spots) at 6 months. DBS will quantify tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) and emtricitabine-triphosphate (FTC-TP) in RBC

    Measured: 6 months

  3. Preliminary Efficacy of the JomPrEP app using the visual analog scale (VAS) to measure PrEP adherence

    The investigators will measure PrEP adherence using the visual analogue scale at 3 months.

    Measured: 3 months

  4. Preliminary Efficacy of the JomPrEP app using the visual analog scale (VAS) to measure PrEP adherence

    The investigators will measure PrEP adherence using the visual analogue scale at 6 months.

    Measured: 6 months

  5. Preliminary Efficacy of the JomPrEP app using proportion of participants who persist on PrEP

    Preliminary Efficacy of the app will be calculated using the proportion of participants who persist on PrEP. Persistence on PrEP is measured on the app when completing PrEP care.

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Sep 2021
  2. Study start15 Nov 2023
  3. Primary completion12 Jul 2025
  4. Study completion12 Jul 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
90 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05044013
Sponsor's protocol ID
K01DA051346
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
25 Aug 2021
Last updated
28 Jul 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Van Tieu H, Koblin BA. HIV, alcohol, and noninjection drug use. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2009 Jul;4(4):314-8. doi: 10.1097/COH.0b013e32832aa902.

    PubMed 19532070
  • Hsieh HF, Shannon SE. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual Health Res. 2005 Nov;15(9):1277-88. doi: 10.1177/1049732305276687.

    PubMed 16204405
  • Guadamuz TE, Cheung DH, Wei C, Koe S, Lim SH. Young, Online and in the Dark: Scaling Up HIV Testing among MSM in ASEAN. PLoS One. 2015 May 14;10(5):e0126658. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126658. eCollection 2015.

    PubMed 25973907
  • Giordano TP, Guzman D, Clark R, Charlebois ED, Bangsberg DR. Measuring adherence to antiretroviral therapy in a diverse population using a visual analogue scale. HIV Clin Trials. 2004 Mar-Apr;5(2):74-9. doi: 10.1310/JFXH-G3X2-EYM6-D6UG.

    PubMed 15116282
  • Grant RM, Anderson PL, McMahan V, Liu A, Amico KR, Mehrotra M, Hosek S, Mosquera C, Casapia M, Montoya O, Buchbinder S, Veloso VG, Mayer K, Chariyalertsak S, Bekker LG, Kallas EG, Schechter M, Guanira J, Bushman L, Burns DN, Rooney JF, Glidden DV; iPrEx study team. Uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis, sexual practices, and HIV incidence in men and transgender women who have sex with men: a cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2014 Sep;14(9):820-9. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(14)70847-3. Epub 2014 Jul 22.

    PubMed 25065857
  • Castillo-Mancilla JR, Zheng JH, Rower JE, Meditz A, Gardner EM, Predhomme J, Fernandez C, Langness J, Kiser JJ, Bushman LR, Anderson PL. Tenofovir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir diphosphate in dried blood spots for determining recent and cumulative drug exposure. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2013 Feb;29(2):384-90. doi: 10.1089/AID.2012.0089. Epub 2012 Oct 10.

    PubMed 22935078
  • Castillo-Mancilla J, Seifert S, Campbell K, Coleman S, McAllister K, Zheng JH, Gardner EM, Liu A, Glidden DV, Grant R, Hosek S, Wilson CM, Bushman LR, MaWhinney S, Anderson PL. Emtricitabine-Triphosphate in Dried Blood Spots as a Marker of Recent Dosing. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2016 Oct 21;60(11):6692-6697. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01017-16. Print 2016 Nov.

    PubMed 27572401
  • Zheng JH, Rower C, McAllister K, Castillo-Mancilla J, Klein B, Meditz A, Guida LA, Kiser JJ, Bushman LR, Anderson PL. Application of an intracellular assay for determination of tenofovir-diphosphate and emtricitabine-triphosphate from erythrocytes using dried blood spots. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2016 Apr 15;122:16-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2016.01.038. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

    PubMed 26829517

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Full access to JomPrEP app and inactivated JomPrEP app in people with HIV Prevention Program, run by University of Connecticut at 1 site in Malaysia.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Malaysia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Feasibility of the JomPrEP app using percentages of individuals screened (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 10 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05044013, which also lists 8 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jul 2025.

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