Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31492120›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2019

Acceptability and potential impact of delivering sexual health promotion information through social media and dating apps to MSM in England: a qualitative study.

Joanna M Kesten, Kaiseree Dias, Fiona Burns, Paul Crook, Alison Howarth, Catherine H Mercer, Alison Rodger, Ian Simms, Isabel Oliver, Matthew Hickman and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
10.4field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 43 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Dating Apps and Their Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Correlates: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020
    Pooled it
  3. Exploring online discussions in men with testicular cancer: a qualitative and sentiment analysis of Reddit posts.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.

Joanna M KestenThe National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit on Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Jo.Kesten@bristol.ac.uk.
Kaiseree DiasPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.
Fiona BurnsInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
Paul CrookField Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK.
Alison HowarthInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
Catherine H MercerInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
Alison RodgerThe National Institute for Health Research HPRU in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections, University College London, London, UK.
Ian SimmsNational Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK.
Isabel OliverThe National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit on Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Matthew HickmanThe National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit on Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Gwenda HughesNational Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK.
Peter WeatherburnThe National Institute for Health Research HPRU in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections, University College London, London, UK.
University College London · GBUniversity of Bristol · GBPublic Health England · GBNational Institute for Health Research · GBRoyal Free London NHS Foundation Trust · GBSigma Research (United States) · US

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/K023233/1National Institute for Health Research N/A
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncreasing rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) in England is a pressing public health concern. Interventions targeting MSM, including information provision that effectively promotes sexual health, are needed. To support such intervention development, it is necessary to understand acceptable ways of delivering sexual health information. We explored the acceptability and potential uses and impacts of delivering sexual health information to MSM through social media and geosocial networking apps or dating apps.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted in person or by telephone with 25 MSM resident in England recruited via dating apps and social media advertisements. Interviews explored sexual health information sources, perceptions and uses. Attitudes towards sexual health promotion through social media and dating apps were then discussed. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

resultsSexual health information delivery through social media and dating apps was considered acceptable. Receiving information when browsing social media was viewed positively by most, as people have time to absorb information. In contrast, concerns were expressed that sharing or commenting on social media sexual health information may lead to judgements and discrimination. While social media reaches a high proportion of the population, dating apps can easily target MSM. However, tensions exist between the ability to provide information at an opportune time through dating apps, when users are connecting with new sexual partners, with the potential to adversely affect the app user's experience. Hypothetical and actual uses and impacts of sexual health information ranged from no impact to reading information, sharing with peers, and increased awareness, to influencing healthcare-seeking, decision-making and risk-taking behaviours. Ensuring that information is engaging, positive in tone, not too clinical, focused on building social norms and delivered by trusted organisations were viewed as important for supporting its use.

conclusionsOverall, these findings support the development of new interventions that use dating apps and social media for sexual health promotion.

Indexed as

Mobile ApplicationsSexual HealthSocial MediaAdultEnglandFeasibility StudiesHealth PromotionHomosexuality, MaleHumansInformation DisseminationMaleMiddle AgedProgram EvaluationQualitative ResearchSexually Transmitted DiseasesYoung AdultAcceptabilityDating appsMen-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM)Qualitative researchSexual health informationSocial media

Identifiers

PMID31492120
PMCPMC6728978
OpenAlexW2971643453

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.