Host Led Harm Reduction Approach Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Who Engaged in Chemsex in Bangkok, Thailand: A Pre-Implementation Study

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

Study population: Recruit chemsex party hosts, chemsex party guests, representatives from the CSOs, government hospital, police organization G1: Chemsex party hosts 1. Have ever hosted a chemsex party at least 2 times in the past 6 months. G2: Chemsex party guests 1. Have ever attended a chemsex party at least 2 times in the past 6 months. G3: CSOs 1. Currently working in a CSO 3. Hold a role or perform a duty related to chemsex-related incidents or drug use for more than 3 months. G4: Government hospitals 1. Currently working in a government hospital. 2. Hold a role or perform a duty related to chemsex-related incidents or drug use for more than 3 months. G5: Police officers 1. Currently working in a police organization. 3. Hold a role or perform the duty related to chemsex-related incidents or drug use for more than 3 months.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

About this study

Conditions

HIV Prevention, Substance Use, Mental Health, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Being tested

Self-administered questionnaire assessment, Semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs), Development and refinement of harm reduction model

Keywords

Chemsex, Harm reduction

Medical subject headings

Substance-Related Disorders, Psychological Well-Being, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chemsex, Harm Reduction

What participants receive

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

• Self-administered questionnaire assessmentBehavioural

  Participants (chemsex party hosts and guests) will complete structured self-administered questionnaires to assess:

  • Substance use patterns and related harms
  • Sexual health risks (e.g., condom use, HIV/STI testing, PrEP/ART adherence)
  • Mental health status using validated tools:
  • Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
  • Socio-legal harms including stigma and discrimination

• Semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs)Behavioural

  All stakeholders will participate in semi-structured in-depth interviews:

  • Exploration phase: guided by EPIS framework
  • Preparation phase: guided by
  • Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) (hosts \& guests)
  • Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) (organizational stakeholders)

  The interviews aim to:

  • Identify harms associated with chemsex
  • Explore current practices and contexts
  • Identify barriers and facilitators
  • Inform development and refinement of a harm reduction model

• Development and refinement of harm reduction modelBehavioural

  A novel four-pronged harm reduction model will be developed and refined based on quantitative and qualitative findings.

  Domains include:

  • Substance use harm reduction
  • Sexual health harm reduction
  • Mental health harm reduction
  • Socio-legal harm reduction

What is being measured

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

1. Substance use-related harm assessed by self-administered questionnaire

   Substance-related harms will be assessed using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The assessment includes:

   • Patterns of substance use (snorting, injecting, ingesting, anal insertion)
   • Frequency of use
   • Physical harms (e.g., injection-related injuries, overdose)
   • Psychological harms (e.g., substance dependence) This is a descriptive assessment; no composite scale score is generated.

   Measured: Baseline (during Exploration phase, prior to model development)

2. Sexual health risk behaviors assessed by self-administered questionnaire

   Sexual health risks will be assessed using a structured questionnaire including:

   • Number of sexual partners
   • Condom use
   • HIV/STI testing history
   • Self-reported HIV status
   • Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and adherence
   • Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among participants living with HIV This is a descriptive assessment; no composite scale score is generated.

   Measured: Baseline (during Exploration phase, prior to model development)

3. Depression severity assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

   Depression will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9):

   • Score range: 0 to 27
   • Interpretation:
   • 0-4: Minimal depression
   • 5-9: Mild
   • 10-14: Moderate
   • 15-19: Moderately severe
   • 20-27: Severe Higher scores indicate worse depression severity

   Measured: Baseline (during Exploration phase, prior to model development)

4. Anxiety severity assessed by Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

   Anxiety will be measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7):

   • Score range: 0 to 21
   • Interpretation:
   • 0-4: Minimal
   • 5-9: Mild
   • 10-14: Moderate
   • 15-21: Severe Higher scores indicate worse anxiety

   Measured: Baseline (during Exploration phase, prior to model development)

Timeline

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

1. First posted6 Apr 2026
2. Study start17 Feb 2025
3. Primary completion17 Feb 2027 (estimated)
4. Study completion30 Dec 2028 (estimated)

Resources

• Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
• Other trials for HIV PreventionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
• 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.