Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39365642›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2024

Assessing the Effectiveness of an mHealth Intervention to Support Men Who Have Sex With Men Engaging in Chemsex (Budd): Single-Case and Pre-Post Experimental Design Study.

Corinne Herrijgers, Peter Verboon, Eric Florence, Heidi Vandebosch, Karolien Poels, Tom Platteau

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Sexual Health and Relationship Education Needs of People in Recovery for an Opioid Use Disorder.Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
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

6 authors.

Corinne HerrijgersDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-8663-6410
Peter VerboonDepartment of Psychology, Open Universiteit, Heerlen, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-8656-0890
Eric FlorenceGeneral Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerpen, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-7004-9120
Heidi VandeboschDepartment of Communication Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-6779-3170
Karolien PoelsDepartment of Communication Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-5276-0293
Tom PlatteauDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-5906-4530

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study focuses on the Budd app, a mobile health intervention designed for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who participate in chemsex. Chemsex, the use of psychoactive drugs in a sexual context, presents substantial health risks including increased HIV transmission and mental health issues. Addressing these risks requires innovative interventions tailored to the unique needs of this population.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Budd app in promoting drug harm reduction practices among its users, focusing on knowledge, behavioral intention, risk behavior awareness, and self-efficacy.

methodsThe study used a mixed methods approach, combining a single-case experimental design and a pre-post study. A total of 10 participants from an outpatient clinic were recruited, and each attended the clinic 3 times. During the first visit, participants installed a restricted version of the Budd app, which allowed them to report daily mood and risk behavior after chemsex sessions. Phase A (baseline) lasted at least 2 weeks depending on chemsex participation. In the second visit, participants gained full access to the Budd app, initiating phase B (intervention). Phase B lasted at least 6 weeks, depending on chemsex participation, with identical data input as phase A. Participants completed pre- and postintervention surveys assessing behavioral determinants during the first and third visit.

resultsThe study observed an increased knowledge about chemsex substances postintervention, with a mean percentage improvement in knowledge scores of 20.59% (SD 13.3%) among participants. Behavioral intention and self-efficacy showed mixed results, with some participants improving while others experienced a decrease. There was also a variable impact on awareness of risk behavior, with half of the participants reporting a decrease postintervention. Despite these mixed results, the app was generally well-received, with participants engaging with the app's features an average of 50 times during the study.

conclusionsThe Budd app showed effectiveness in enhancing knowledge about chemsex substances among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. However, its impact on safe dosing behavior, behavioral intention, self-efficacy, and risk behavior awareness was inconsistent. These findings suggest that while educational interventions can increase knowledge, translating this into behavioral change is more complex and may require more participants, a longer follow-up period, and additional strategies and support mechanisms.

Indexed as

Homosexuality, MaleMobile ApplicationsTelemedicineAdultHarm ReductionHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk-TakingSexual and Gender MinoritiesSingle-Case Studies as Topicbehavioral changechemsexdigital interventionharm reductionhealth educationmen who have sex with menmobile healthmobile phoneMSMrisk behaviorself-efficacysexual health

Identifiers

PMID39365642
PMCPMC11489797

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.