BehaviorNCT07472582
A Chatbot to Reduce Chemsex and HIV-related Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men
A study testing Chatbot-delivered online interventions and online videos and Online videos only in people with Behavior, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether receiving chatbot-delivered stage-of-change-tailored online interventions is effective in reducing chemsex among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong. 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
- Behavior
- What is being tested?
- Chatbot-delivered online interventions and online videos and Online videos only
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to 31 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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
- Hong Kong men aged at least 18 years
- Able to understand Cantonese
- Had anal intercourse with at least one man within the past six months
- Willingness to provide contact information for follow-up
- Having access to WhatsApp
Who cannot join
- Self-reported a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Centre for Health Behaviours Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Zixin Wang, +852 22528474, wangzx@cuhk.edu.hk
About this study
Official title: A Chatbot to Reduce Chemsex and HIV-related Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether receiving chatbot-delivered stage-of-change-tailored online interventions is effective in reducing chemsex among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong. The main question it aims to answer is:
Does chatbot-delivered stage-of-changed online interventions reduce chemsex among men who have sex with men
Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control group. The control group will watch one online video introducing chemsex-related knowledge and harm reduction skills per week for 12 weeks. On top of the interventions received by the control group, participants in the intervention group will have access to a chatbot during the 12-week intervention period. The chatbot will deliver 12 weekly episodes of interventions tailored to once's current stage-of-change related to chemsex. The chatbot will also address questions related to chemsex during the intervention period.
- Conditions
- Behavior
- Being tested
- Chatbot-delivered online interventions and online videos, Online videos only
- Medical subject headings
- Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Chatbot-delivered online interventions and online videosBehavioural
Participants will watch one online video introducing chemsex-related knowledge and harm reduction skills per week for 12 weeks. The chatbot will deliver 12 weekly episodes of interventions tailored to once's current stage-of-change related to chemsex. The chatbot will also address questions related to chemsex during the intervention period.
Online videos onlyBehavioural
Participants will watch one online video introducing chemsex-related knowledge and harm reduction skills per week for 12 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Chatbot-delivered interventions and online videos Receives: Behavioral: Chatbot-delivered online interventions and online videos |
| Control group | Active comparator | Online videos only Receives: Behavioral: Online videos only |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Presence of chemsex in the past 3 months
Presence of chemsex will be measured by a validated 15-item checklist: (1) Methamphetamine ("ice"/"crystal"), (2) GHB/GBL, (3) ketamine, (4) MDMA/ecstasy, (5) cocaine, (6)cannabis, (7) "space oil"/etomidate, (8) mephedrone, (9) 5-methoxy-N, N-diisopropyltryptamine (Foxy), (10) heroin, (11) cough suppressant, (12) sedative/sleeping pills (e.g., zopiclone), (13) erectile dysfunctional drugs (e.g., sildenafil) or (14) poppers (alkyl nitrites) and (15) any other drugs not specified.
Participants will be asked whether they had used any of the aforementioned psychoactive substances before or during sexual intercourse in the past 3 months at baseline, after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 3 or Week 12), and 3 months after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 6)
Measured: Baseline, after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 3 or Week 12), and 3 months after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 6)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026
- Primary completion31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for BehaviorStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zixin Wang, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07472582
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ATFMSS393R
- Status last verified
- Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The data contains sensitive behaviors.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Chatbot to Reduce Chemsex and HIV-related Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07472582
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ATFMSS393R
- Conditions
- Behavior
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether receiving chatbot-delivered stage-of-change-tailored online interventions is effective in reducing chemsex among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong. The main question it aims to answer is:
Does chatbot-delivered stage-of-changed online interventions reduce chemsex among men who have sex with men
Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control group. The control group will watch one online video introducing chemsex-related knowledge and harm reduction skills per week for 12 weeks. On top of the interventions received by the control group, participants in the intervention group will have access to a chatbot during the 12-week intervention period. The chatbot will deliver 12 weekly episodes of interventions tailored to once's current stage-of-change related to chemsex. The chatbot will also address questions related to chemsex during the intervention period.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Behavioral: Chatbot-delivered online interventions and online videosChatbot-delivered interventions and online videos |
| Control group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Online videos onlyOnline videos only |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Hong Kong men aged at least 18 years
- Able to understand Cantonese
- Had anal intercourse with at least one man within the past six months
- Willingness to provide contact information for follow-up
- Having access to WhatsApp
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Self-reported a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Chatbot-delivered online interventions and online videosParticipants will watch one online video introducing chemsex-related knowledge and harm reduction skills per week for 12 weeks. The chatbot will deliver 12 weekly episodes of interventions tailored to once's current stage-of-change related to chemsex. The chatbot will also address questions related to chemsex during the intervention period. | Behavioural | Intervention group |
| Online videos onlyParticipants will watch one online video introducing chemsex-related knowledge and harm reduction skills per week for 12 weeks. | Behavioural | Control group |
Primary outcome
Presence of chemsex in the past 3 months
Time frame: Baseline, after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 3 or Week 12), and 3 months after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 6)
Presence of chemsex will be measured by a validated 15-item checklist: (1) Methamphetamine ("ice"/"crystal"), (2) GHB/GBL, (3) ketamine, (4) MDMA/ecstasy, (5) cocaine, (6)cannabis, (7) "space oil"/etomidate, (8) mephedrone, (9) 5-methoxy-N, N-diisopropyltryptamine (Foxy), (10) heroin, (11) cough suppressant, (12) sedative/sleeping pills (e.g., zopiclone), (13) erectile dysfunctional drugs (e.g., sildenafil) or (14) poppers (alkyl nitrites) and (15) any other drugs not specified. Participants will be asked whether they had used any of the aforementioned psychoactive substances before or during sexual intercourse in the past 3 months at baseline, after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 3 or Week 12), and 3 months after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 6)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The data contains sensitive behaviors.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Chatbot-delivered online interventions and online videos and Online videos only in people with Behavior, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
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 1 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Nov 2026. 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 Hong Kong. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Zixin Wang, PhD (+852 22528474, wangzx@cuhk.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Presence of chemsex in the past 3 months (time frame: Baseline, after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 3 or Week 12), and 3 months after completion of the 12-week intervention (Month 6)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 4 Nov 2026.