title: Safetxt: a pilot randomised controlled trial of an intervention delivered by mobile phone to increase safer sex behaviours in young people.
abstract: To test the procedures proposed for a main trial of a safer sex intervention for young people delivered by mobile phone text message ('safetxt').
  
  
  
  Pilot randomised controlled trial. Participants were recruited through sexual health services in the UK. An independent online randomisation system allocated participants to receive the safetxt intervention or to receive the control text messages (monthly messages about participation in the study). Texting software delivered the messages in accordance with a predetermined schedule.
  
  
  
  Residents of England aged 16-24 who had received either a positive chlamydia test result or reported unsafe sex in the last year (defined as more than 1 partner and at least 1 occasion of sex without a condom).
  
  
  
  The safetxt intervention is designed to reduce sexually transmitted infection in young people by supporting them in using condoms, telling a partner about an infection and testing before unprotected sex with a new partner. Safetxt was developed drawing on: behavioural science; face-to-face interventions; the factors known to influence safer sex behaviours and the views of young people.
  
  
  
  The coprimary outcomes of the pilot trial were the recruitment rate and completeness of follow-up.
  
  
  
  We recruited 200 participants within our target of 3 months and we achieved 81% (162/200) follow-up response for the proposed primary outcome of the main trial, cumulative incidence of chlamydia at 12 months.
  
  
  
  Recruitment, randomisation, intervention delivery and follow-up were successful and a randomised controlled trial of the safetxt intervention is feasible.
  
  
  
  ISRCTN02304709; Results.
authors.affiliation: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ona L
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9902-6248
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: French
authors.affiliation: Kings College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3354-6494
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baraitser
authors.affiliation: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sujit D
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8783-7724
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rathod
authors.affiliation: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8935-2181
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Devries
authors.affiliation: University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Julia V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4431-8822
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wellings
authors.affiliation: University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michie
authors.affiliation: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Free
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D017280:Condoms; D030881:Disclosure; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D021841:Safe Sex; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D060145:Text Messaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: INFECTIOUS DISEASES; SEXUAL MEDICINE