Pilot Study of a Digital Health Intervention to Increase HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Uptake and Reduce Condomless Sex and Substance Use Among Adolescents - PubMed (original) (raw)

Randomized Controlled Trial

. 2026 Mar;78(3):485-494.

doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.05.017. Epub 2025 Jul 22.

Jose A Bauermeister 2, Sydni Warner 3, Zhuoxun Jiang 4, Frania Mendoza Lua 5, Sarah Khreizat 6, Jennifer MacLeod 7, Patricia Wells 8, Torsten B Neilands 9, Lauretta Ovadje 3, Jorge Delva 10, Kathryn B Fessler 8, Versell A Smith 8, Cherrie B Boyer 11

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Randomized Controlled Trial

Pilot Study of a Digital Health Intervention to Increase HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Uptake and Reduce Condomless Sex and Substance Use Among Adolescents

David Cordova et al. J Adolesc Health. 2026 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: Enhancing HIV/sexually transmitted infection testing and reducing unsafe sexual behaviors and substance use are crucial for public health, particularly among youth. This pilot study examines the Storytelling 4 Empowerment (S4E) intervention's preliminary efficacy in these areas.

Methods: Using a community-engaged research approach, we conducted a randomized controlled trial with 100 adolescents and young adults (mean age = 19.27, standard deviation = 1.62) at a youth-focused clinic in Southeast Michigan. Participants were randomized to S4E, a brief digital health intervention, or usual care. Assessments occurred at baseline, postintervention, 3 and 6 months, with statistical analyses estimating effect sizes.

Results: S4E participants demonstrated higher HIV (52% vs. 12%; h = 0.95) and sexually transmitted infection (52% vs. 20.4%; h = 0.74) testing at 6-month follow-up. Reductions in condomless sex (12.9% vs. 1%; h = 0.35) and binge drinking (11.2% vs. 1.6%; h = 0.02) were reported at 3 months. Both youth and providers in the S4E group reported better clinician-youth communication than controls, and youth showed increased improvement over time (Cohen's d = 1.19 at 6 months).

Discussion: The S4E intervention demonstrated significant improvements in testing, risk behaviors, and communication. These findings suggest the need for larger-scaled randomized controlled trials to confirm the intervention's efficacy for youth in clinical settings.

Keywords: Digital health; HIV; Primary care; Sexual health; Substance use; Youth.

Copyright © 2025 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest Statement: The authors report there are no conflicts of interest to declare.

References

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