RESEARCH
Digi al s a egies and beha io change echniques o
p e en ing sexually ansmi ed in ec ions: P o ocol
o an o e iew o sys ema ic e iews
Giuliano Dua ea, b , Susana Sandu e e-Cha esc* , Daniel López-A enasc ,
Sal ado Chacón-Moscosoc, d
aFacul ad de Psicología, Uni e sidad de Ba celona, Ba celona, España; bFacul ad de Ciencias Médicas, Uni e sidad de San iago de Chile,
San iago, Chile; cFacul ad de Psicología, Uni e sidad de Se illa, Se illa, España; dUni e sidad Au ónoma de Chile, San iago, Chile
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Sexually ansmi ed in ec ions (STIs) a e a leading cause o p ema u e mo ali y, wi h unsa e sex as a p edominan
isk ac o . Changing isky sexual beha io s and adop ing heal hy habi s is key o p e en ing STIs, including HIV, essen ial o public
heal h. Technological ad ances in digi al in e en ions ha e e ealed signi ican oppo uni ies, and sys ema ic e iews ha e
e alua ed hei e ec i eness. These digi al in e en ions, using echnologies such as mobile phones, apps, and wea able de ices,
ha e shown g ea po en ial o educe STIs, pa icula ly among young people, who a e a key popula ion o hei implemen a ion.
OBJECTIVE This p o ocol aims o desc ibe in ad ance a sys ema ic e iew in ended o ga he , e alua e, and syn hesize he a ailable
e idence on digi al beha io change in e en ions o STI p e en ion. In pa icula , i seeks o iden i y he mos e ec i e beha io
change echniques o guide he design o e idence-based in e en ions ha con ibu e o educing STIs.
METHODS This p o ocol ou lines a e iew o sys ema ic e iews. The me hodological quali y o he included e iews will be assessed
using he AMSTAR-2 ool, ollowing he PRISMA-P guidelines. Comp ehensi e sea ches will be conduc ed in Coch ane, PubMed,
Epis emonikos, and PsycINFO. The inclusion c i e ia will ocus on sys ema ic e iews e alua ing he e ec o digi al beha io change
in e en ions o STI p e en ion, co e ing echnologies such as mobile phones, apps, and websi es. Da a ex ac ion will iden i y key
componen s using he Beha io Change Techniques Taxonomy e sion 1 (BCTT 1). The p o ocol is egis e ed in PROSPERO
(CRD42023485887).
EXPECTED RESULTS This e iew is expec ed o p o ide heo e ical insigh s in o beha io change in STI p e en ion h ough digi al
in e en ions, iden i ying he mos e ec i e echniques. These indings will help design scalable, e idence-based in e en ions,
aimed especially a you h, and guide policymake s in implemen ing mo e e ec i e s a egies o educe STI ansmission a ound he
wo ld.
KEYWORDS Beha io al change, beha io al design, sexually ansmi ed diseases, HIV, digi al beha io change in e en ion (DBCI)
INTRODUCTION
Unsa e sex, along wi h beha io s such as physical inac i i y,
smoking, and alcohol consump ion, is associa ed wi h o e
hal o p ema u e dea hs wo ldwide [1,2]. Unsa e sex—one o
he main isk ac o s o mo bidi y and mo ali y in you h—is
linked o sexually ansmi ed in ec ions (STIs) [3], including
human immunode iciency i us (HIV) and cance [4], ela ed o
pe sis en human papilloma i us (HPV) in ec ion. Globally, HIV/
AIDS is he ou h cause o dea h among people aged 15 o 49
[5] wi h o e 1 million people con ac ing a sexually ansmi ed
in ec ion (such as syphilis, gono hea, chlamydia, among o he s)
e e y day [6]; cu en ly, nea ly 39 million people wo ldwide a e
li ing wi h HIV [7], esul ing in signi ican pe sonal, social, and
economic cos s.
The mos e ec i e p og ams a e e idence-based in e en-
ions, beha io al heo ies, and beha io change [8]. To educe
he isk o con ac ing and ansmi ing STIs o HIV, digi al
* Co esponding au ho [email p o ec ed]
Ci a ion Dua eG, Sandu e e-Cha esS, López-A enas D, Chacón-
MoscosoS. Digi al s a egies and beha io change echniques o
p e en ing sexually ansmi ed in ec ions: P o ocol o an o e iew o
sys ema ic e iews. Medwa e 2025;25(2):e3020
DOI 10.5867/medwa e.2025.02.3020
Submi ed Oc 3, 2024, Accep ed Jan 22, 2025,
Published Ma 10, 2025
Pos al add ess Facul ad de Psicología, Campus Ramón y Cajal, C/,
Camilo José Cela, s/nDepa amen o de Psicología Expe imen al, Se illa,
España
10.5867/medwa e.2025.02.3020 Medwa e 2025;25(2):e3020 Pg. 1 / 8
beha io change in e en ions o p omo e sa e sex o limi isky
sexual p ac ices can be designed om cons an ly upda ed o
“li e" heo e ical amewo ks and e idence. [9–11]
Digi al beha io change in e en ions a e de ined as p oduc s
o se ices ha use echnology o p omo e beha io change
[12], hey can suppo heal h beha io change [13] a bo h
indi idual and collec i e le els by modi ying he en i onmen
[14]. Digi al beha io change in e en ions a e mo e scalable
and po en ially cos -e ec i e compa ed o adi ional ace-
o- ace in e en ions; hey a e also mo e adap i e, allowing
o pe sonalized deli e y based on ulne abili y, and passi e
sc eening, among o he s [15]. An example o his was seen
du ing he COVID-19 pandemic, whe e digi al in e en ions
signi ican ly changed heal hca e deli e y [16]. Digi al beha -
io change in e en ions can be deli e ed ia mobile phones,
sma phone apps, wea able de ices, o websi es and can
suppo beha io change by pu suing di e en ou comes
such as inc eased physical ac i i y [17,18], weigh con ol [19],
smoking cessa ion [20], and educing alcohol consump ion in
p egnan women [21].
Beha io change in e en ions o en con ain mul iple ‘ac i e
ing edien s’ (i.e., he ypes o con en ha ha e he po en ial
o enhance p e en ion and in e en ion design, in his case o
STI/HIV) o beha io change echniques [22]. Al hough mos
heal h in e en ions do no desc ibe he cons uc ion p ocess
o imp o e eplica ion and p ac ice [23], iden i ying speci ic
beha io change echniques o combina ions wi h he po en ial
o be e ec i e in inc easing sa e sex and educing STIs/HIV
ep esen s a majo challenge o heal h policies. Ou eam has
no iden i ied he 'ac i e ing edien s' necessa y o design digi al
in e en ions and s anda dize hei cons uc ion. We unde -
s and he 'ac i e ing edien s' in a medical in e en ion as he
componen s o he in e en ion ha de e mine he esul s, such
ha , i hey a e omi ed, he in e en ion would be ine ec i e.
[24].
In his case, digi al beha io change in e en ions mus
con ain 'ing edien s' ha incen i ize change, p omo e sa e sex
p ac ices and a e ansmi ed h ough a mo e e ec i e medium
ha in ol es use s, encou aging hem o ake speci ic e idence-
based measu es, such as using condoms [25], lea ning abou
heal h isks, seeking suppo om pa ne s and pee g oups,
and e en edesigning he en i onmen [26] o acili a e access
o condoms and STIs sc eening es s [27], as well as educing he
numbe o sexual pa ne s, sexual abs inence, mu ual monog-
amy, accina ion, among o he s [28].
S udy aim and esea ch ques ion
The main objec i e o his sys ema ic e iew is o compile,
e alua e and in eg a e he esul s o sys ema ic e iews on
digi al in e en ions ha seek o educe o p e en sexually
ansmi ed in ec ions in he sexually ac i e popula ion h ough
beha io al changes. Syn hesizing he e idence on beha io
change echniques has mul iple pu poses, including iden i y-
ing he mos e ec i e s a egies, designing e idence-based
in e en ions, and compa ing e iew esul s o guide e idence-
based decision making.
Cha ac e izing he con en o in e en ions is c ucial o
in o m, eplica e and syn hesize e idence [29,3031]. To add ess
he gap in he li e a u e, his s udy aims o conduc an
o e iew o sys ema ic e iews o explo e digi al in e en ions
o p e en ing sexually ansmi ed in ec ions. Such an o e iew
could o e aluable insigh s in o he ac i e ing edien s needed
o design an e ec i e in e en ion.
Objec i e
This o e iew aims o syn hesize he e idence on beha -
io change echniques using he beha io change echniques
axonomy, ocusing on iden i ying he ´ac i e ing edien s´
o digi al in e en ions applied o p e en sexually ansmi -
ed in ec ions in he sexually ac i e popula ion. This e iew
seeks o answe he ollowing esea ch ques ion: Wha ypes
o beha io change echniques a e in eg a ed in o digi al
in e en ions, how a e hey implemen ed, and wha impac
do hey ha e, acco ding o he Beha io Change Techniques
Taxonomy e sion 1 (BCTT 1), on imp o ing he p e en ion
o sexually ansmi ed in ec ions/HIV in he sexually ac i e
popula ion?
METHODS
This o e iew o e iews complies wi h he ‘P e e ed
Repo ing I ems o Sys ema ic Re iews and Me a-Analyses
P o ocols’ (PRISMA-P) guidelines o epo ing sys ema ic
e iews and me a-analyses [32] (see Supplemen a y Ma e ial 1).
This p o ocol has been egis e ed a PROSPERO wi h egis a-
ion numbe CRD42023485887 (see Supplemen a y Ma e ial 2),
and he comple ed e sion will be published in Open Science
F amewo k (OSF) [33]. The inal manusc ip o his o e iew
will be de eloped ollowing he P e e ed Repo ing I ems o
O e iew o Re iews (PRIOR) s a emen guidelines [34]. (see
Supplemen a y Ma e ial 3).
An o e iew o ma was chosen o his s udy, as i allows
o he syn hesis and analysis o mul iple sys ema ic e iews on
he same opic, in his case, digi al in e en ions o p e en ing
STIs/HIV. Acco ding o he Coch ane Handbook o Sys em-
a ic Re iews o In e en ions, speci ically he chap e abou
o e iews o e iews [35], o e iews a e sui able o p o iding
a comp ehensi e unde s anding o exis ing e idence, add ess-
ing b oade ques ions and summa izing in e en ions ac oss
di e se app oaches and popula ions. This o ma aligns wi h
ou objec i e o iden i ying e ec i e s a egies in beha io
change echniques, he eby suppo ing decision-making in
public heal h.
Re iews included in his o e iew
We will conduc a sys ema ic e iew o e iews (o e iew)
[35] o syn hesize he e idence on using heo e ical amewo ks
o beha io change echniques, implemen ed h ough digi al
in e en ions, o p e en sexually ansmi ed in ec ions/HIV.
Digi al s a egies and beha io change echniques o p e en ing sexually ansmi ed in ec ions
10.5867/medwa e.2025.02.3020 Medwa e 2025;25(2):e3020 Pg. 2 / 8
The main objec i e is o iden i y hese in e en ions 'ac-
i e ing edien s´ by ex ac ing hem acco ding o he Beha -
io Change Techniques Taxonomy e sion 1, he Theo e ical
Domains F amewo k, o he Beha io Change Wheel. Unde -
s anding and analyzing hese p ocesses and echniques is
undamen al o designing e ec i e in e en ions and in o med
decision-making in heal hca e. The syn hesis o e idence on
beha io change echniques can help iden i y he mos e ec i e
in e en ions, imp o e he design o u u e e idence-based
in e en ions o p e en ing STIs/HIV, and enable he compa i-
son o indings be ween e iews, hus p o iding he necessa y
e idence o public heal h decision-make s.
S ep-by-s ep mapping o sys ema ic e iews
The ollowing sec ion summa izes he sc eening s age, which
comp ised se e al s eps. These s eps aim o de e mine i he
ma e ial mee s he inclusion c i e ia, which a e desc ibed in
mo e de ail la e .
S ep 1: To e i y ha he e iews a e digi al in e en ion-
ocused.
S ep 2: To ensu e ha hey a e aimed a p e en ing STIs/HIV.
S ep 3: To con i m ha hey a e sys ema ic e iews
Eligibili y c i e ia
Types o s udies: We will include all sys ema ic e iews ha
e alua e and desc ibe he e ec o beha io change echni-
ques, hei mechanisms o ac ion o any beha io al model o
amewo k ha explains how digi al in e en ion in luences
beha io change o educe he isk o p e en he ansmission
o sexually ansmi ed in ec ions, including HIV.
In e en ion ype: We will include sys ema ic e iews ha
e alua e digi al and mobile heal h beha io change in e -
en ions ocusing on changing unsa e sexual beha io s o
p e en ing sexually ansmi ed in ec ions/HIV. In o he wo ds,
in e en ions conduc ed h ough a digi al o mobile pla o m as
a di ec in e ace wi h pa icipan s.
Types o ou comes: We will no conside esul s as inclusion
c i e ia du ing selec ion. We will include sys ema ic e iews ha
e alua e sho - o long- e m beha io change ega ding he
ollowing p ima y ou comes:
• Reduc ion o isky sexual beha io s, such as condom use
(las sexual encoun e , equency, consis ency), and
inc eased use o STI es s.
• P e en ion: HPV and Hepa i is A and B accina ion, and
p e-exposu e p ophylaxis o HIV (P EP).
As seconda y ou comes, in e ac ion epo s on he me hods
o applica ion o beha io change echniques will be analyzed,
using s anda dized classi ica ions whene e a ailable, such as
he axonomy o beha io change echniques. Da a ex ac ion
will iden i y TDF, COM-B beha io change sys em, associ-
a ed BCW, and "ac i e ing edien s," using a ailable s anda -
dized classi ica ions, such as he beha io change echniques
axonomy (BCTT 1) de eloped by Michie and colleagues, o
in o m, eplica e, and syn hesize esea ch e idence, as long as
hey a e desc ibed in he indings o he e iews.
As seconda y ou comes, in e ac ion epo s on he applica-
ion me hods o beha io change echniques will be analyzed,
using s anda dized classi ica ions whene e a ailable, such as
he beha io change echniques axonomy. Da a ex ac ion
will iden i y Theo e ical Domains F amewo k, COM-B beha io
change sys em, associa ed Beha io Change Wheel, and ´ac i e
ing edien s´ using a ailable s anda dized classi ica ions, such as
he beha io change echniques axonomy e sion 1 de eloped
by Michie and colleagues, o in o m, eplica e, and syn hesize
esea ch e idence, as long as hey a e desc ibed in he indings
o he e iews.
Addi ionally, he ollowing po en ial ou comes ha may
be ob ained in da a ex ac ion will be included: Condom
use (in e nal o ex e nal), equency o unp o ec ed sexual
in e cou se, numbe o sexual pa ne s, STI/HIV es ing (and i
posi i e, his in e en ion would acili a e an STI es ), accep -
ance o male medical ci cumcision, HIV counseling, accina ion
agains (HPV, HEP A and B), sel -e icacy, knowledge ela ed o
STIs/HIV, a i udes owa ds condom use (and i posi i e, his
in e en ion would acili a e condom use).
Any s udy ha does no include a p ima y and/o seconda y
ou come will be excluded.
Sea ch s a egies
Elec onic sea ches: We will pe o m an ini ial explo a o y
sea ch, selec ing a icles acco ding o speci ic c i e ia and
ex ac ing e ms o e ine he sea ch s a egy. We will dis-
cuss hese e ms wi h expe s, c ea e a boolean s a egy, and
i e a e o include ele an omi ed e ms, e ining he s a egy
acco dingly. The sea ch s a egy was de eloped a ound he
componen s o he esea ch ques ion, and be o e manusc ip
submission, a new sea ch will be conduc ed o iden i y and
upda e any addi ional po en ial s udies.
Elec onic sea ches: We will pe o m an ini ial explo a o y
sea ch, selec ing a icles acco ding o speci ic c i e ia and
ex ac ing e ms o e ine he sea ch s a egy. We will dis-
cuss hese e ms wi h expe s, c ea e a boolean s a egy, and
i e a e o include ele an omi ed e ms, e ining he s a egy
acco dingly. The sea ch s a egy was de eloped a ound he
componen s o he esea ch ques ion, and be o e manusc ip
submission, a new sea ch will be conduc ed o iden i y and
upda e any addi ional po en ial s udies.
No language o publica ion s a us es ic ions will be applied,
and no il e s will be used.
Ou li e a u e sea ch will be conduc ed in he ollowing
da abases: MEDLINE/PubMed; Coch ane Da abase o Sys em-
a ic Re iews (CDSR); Epis emonikos; PsycINFO, chosen o
hei comp ehensi e co e age and e ec i eness in iden i ying
sys ema ic e iews in heal h esea ch [36].
The sea ch s a egy inco po a es e ms ela ed o digi al
in e en ions, beha io change in e en ions, p e en ion and
isk educ ion o sexually ansmi ed in ec ions, and sys ema ic
Dua e e al.
10.5867/medwa e.2025.02.3020 Medwa e 2025;25(2):e3020 Pg. 3 / 8
e iews. Appendices 4 and 5 p o ide he de ailed sea ch
s a egy.
O he sea ch sou ces
To ensu e he iden i ica ion o a icles ha may no ha e been
de ec ed by he sea ch s a egy o ha a e no a ailable in he
included da abases, we will include he ollowing sou ces o
in o ma ion:
• Manual e iew o e e ences om included s udies.
• Examina ion o sys ema ic e iews ha sha e a leas one
s udy in common wi h he included sys ema ic e iews.
In addi ion o sea ching elec onic da abases, we will sea ch
he ollowing sou ces o g ay li e a u e: Guideline Reducing
sexually ansmi ed in ec ions Na ional Ins i u e o Heal h and
Ca e Excellence Publica ion da e [37], Google Schola , coun y
heal h ankings and oadmaps [38], The Lance Digi al Heal h,
and Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion Lib a y In o ma ion Sys em
(WHOLIS). The li e a u e sea ch will also be supplemen ed by
con ac ing expe s in he ield and e iewing a icles ci ing
indi idual s udies known o be ele an o he opic, including
sys ema ic e iews ha a e ongoing and no ye published o
nea ing comple ion on he PROSPERO pla o m [39].
S udy selec ion
S udies iden i ied h ough he sea ch will be examined by
i le and abs ac by wo independen e iewe s (GDA, DLA)
acco ding o p ede ined eligibili y c i e ia. Then, all a icles
conside ed o inclusion will be ully assessed by wo inde-
penden e iewe s (GDA, DLA). Any disag eemen in he s udy
selec ion p ocess will be esol ed h ough consensus be ween
he wo e iewe s. I necessa y, a hi d e iewe (SSC) will be
consul ed o a inal decision. Reasons o excluding s udies
examined a his s age will be eco ded and epo ed in he
PRISMA low diag am. Re e ences o excluded s udies will also
be epo ed.
S udies iden i ied h ough he sea ch will be examined by
i le and abs ac by wo independen e iewe s (GDA, DLA)
acco ding o p ede ined eligibili y c i e ia. Then, wo independ-
en e iewe s will ully assess all a icles conside ed o inclusion
(GDA, DLA). Any disag eemen in he s udy selec ion p ocess
will be esol ed h ough consensus be ween he wo e iewe s.
A hi d e iewe (SSC) will be consul ed o a inal decision i
necessa y. The PRISMA low diag am will eco d and epo he
easons o excluding s udies examined a his s age. Re e ences
o excluded s udies will also be epo ed.
S udies iden i ied h ough he sea ch will be examined by
i le and abs ac by wo independen e iewe s (GDA, DLA)
acco ding o p ede ined eligibili y c i e ia. Then, wo independ-
en e iewe s will ho oughly assess all a icles conside ed o
inclusion (GDA, DLA). Any disag eemen in he s udy selec ion
p ocess will be esol ed h ough consensus be ween he wo
e iewe s. A hi d e iewe (SSC) will be consul ed o a inal
decision i necessa y. The PRISMA low diag am will eco d and
epo he easons o excluding s udies examined a his s age.
Re e ences o excluded s udies will also be no ed.
The s udy selec ion p ocess will be conduc ed using he
Collabo a onTM so wa e [40], a sc eening ool de eloped
by he Epis emonikos Founda ion wi hin he SK (Sus ainable
Knowledge) pla o m. The esul s o he elec onic sea ch will
be inco po a ed based on inclusion c i e ia. Comple e epo s
will be ob ained o all i les ha appea o mee he inclusion
c i e ia o equi e u he analysis o decide on hei inclusion.
A each sea ch s age, we will eco d he easons o excluding
e iews and desc ibe he s udy selec ion p ocess in a PRISMA
low diag am adap ed o his p ojec .
Addi ional a icles mee ing he inclusion c i e ia bu no
ound in he ini ial sea ch because hey do no men ion "digi al
beha io change in e en ions o he p e en ion o sexually
ansmi ed in ec ions/HIV" in he i le o abs ac will be
sea ched in he e e ence lis s o included a icles.
Da a ex ac ion and managemen
Using s anda dized o ms, wo e iewe s will independen ly
ex ac da a om each included SR [41]. Any disag eemen s
will be esol ed h ough discussion, and i necessa y, a hi d
esea che will be consul ed. Reliabili y be ween e iewe s
will be assessed based on wo coding ca ego ies (inclusion
e sus exclusion) a e he ull- ex selec ion phase using kappa
s a is ics adjus ed o p e alence and bias (PABAK), which
con ols o p obabili y ag eemen . The ollowing cu o poin s
will be used: 0.40–0.59 indica es ai ag eemen , 0.60–0.74
indica es good ag eemen , and >0.75 indica es high ag eemen .
Using s anda dized o ms, wo e iewe s will independen ly
ex ac da a om each sys ema ic e iew [41]. Any disag ee-
men s will be esol ed h ough discussion, and a hi d
esea che will be consul ed i necessa y. Reliabili y be ween
e iewe s will be assessed based on wo coding ca ego ies
(inclusion e sus exclusion) a e he ull- ex selec ion phase
using kappa s a is ics adjus ed o p e alence and bias (PABAK),
which con ols o p obabili y ag eemen . The ollowing cu o
poin s will be used: 0.40 o 0.59 indica es ai ag eemen , 0.60
o 0.74 indica es good ag eemen , and > 0.75 indica es high
ag eemen .
The ollowing cha ac e is ics o he included SRs will be
epo ed: a) Au ho , b) Publica ion da e, c) Objec i e o he
sys ema ic e iew, d) Numbe o s udies included, e) Yea o he
mos ecen s udy, ) Loca ion (coun y o geog aphic loca-
ion o he included s udies), g) Numbe o included s ud-
ies, h) Included designs, i) Numbe o andomized con olled
ials (RCTs), j) Type o popula ion (adolescen s, young adul s,
adul s, men who ha e sex wi h o he men, sexual di e -
si y g oups (LGBTIQ+), e c.), k) Types o digi al in e en ions
(deli e ed echnology, ype o digi al con en , and o he
desc ip ions), l) Beha io al ou comes, m) Cogni i e ou comes
(p e en ion media o s), n) Biological ou comes, o) Implemen a-
ion ou comes (APEASE, i.e., Accep abili y, Feasibili y, E ec i e-
ness, A o dabili y, Side E ec s, Equi y), p) Assessmen o he
Digi al s a egies and beha io change echniques o p e en ing sexually ansmi ed in ec ions
10.5867/medwa e.2025.02.3020 Medwa e 2025;25(2):e3020 Pg. 4 / 8
quali y o e idence o he included s udies, ) Eligibili y c i e ia
o he included sys ema ic e iew, s) S udy unding sou ce,
and ) Con lic s o in e es disclosed by he esea che s (see
Supplemen a y Ma e ial 6).
Addi ionally, we will include in o ma ion on he explici
heo e ical amewo k o beha io change, a desc ip ion o
he amewo k o heo y as epo ed by he au ho s, Beha -
io Change Techniques Taxonomy e sion 1 (BCTT 1), Theo e -
ical Domains F amewo k, and/o mapping acco ding o he
Beha io Change Wheel (in e en ion unc ions acco ding o
he beha io change wheel), a bias isk ool, and e idence
ce ain y (GRADE). Once he da a ex ac ion p ocess is comple e,
he esul s will be epo ed and syn hesized using s anda dized
classi ica ions ollowing he Coding Manual (OSF). Taxonomy
coding will be pe o med whene e a ailable, ollowing he
Beha io Change Techniques Taxonomy e sion 1 o in o m,
eplica e, and syn hesize esea ch e idence [22].
Risk o bias assessmen
Two au ho s will independen ly assess he isk o bias o
eachsys ema ic e iew using he isk o bias ool in sys em-
a ic e iews (AMSTAR-2). [42] This ool helps iden i y po en ial
biases, including selec ion, epo ing, in o ma ion, publica ion,
in e p e a ion, biases, and c i ical and non-c i ical weaknesses.
The decision o use AMSTAR-2 is u he suppo ed by i s
abili y o e alua e key me hodological elemen s, such as he
cla i y o eligibili y c i e ia, he comp ehensi eness o he sea ch
s a egy and he igou o da a collec ion. This s anda dized ool,
combined wi h independen e alua ions and consensus, will
imp o e con ol o e possible biases in he sys ema ic e iews.
The isk o bias o he p ima y s udies included in he e iews
will no be e alua ed.
Da a syn hesis
The esul s o he included sys ema ic e iews will be
p esen ed in a na a i e o ma . A able will summa ize he
cha ac e is ics o each sys ema ic e iew and hei esul s
acco ding o he ype o beha io change echnique (´ac i e
ing edien s´) o he Beha io Change Techniques Taxonomy
e sion 1 conside ed in designing digi al in e en ions o
p e en sexually ansmi ed in ec ions/HIV
O e lapping
To a oid duplica ing p ima y s udies' da a, we will assess
whe he he sys ema ic e iews con ain o e lapping p ima y
s udies, de eloping an e idence ma ix be o e p esen ing he
da a. I no o e lap is de ec ed, we will include all ele an
sys ema ic e iews wi hou conce n o da a duplica ion o
p ima y s udy esul s. In he e en o he e being an o e -
lap o p ima y s udies be ween he e iews included, we will
ollow hese s eps: 1. Include he Coch ane sys ema ic e iew
(i a ailable), he mos ecen , he highes quali y, he 'mos
ele an ' o he 'mos comp ehensi e' ( o a oid duplica ion o
esul s da a) and p esen he da a in a sepa a e esul s able.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This a icle add esses he issue o sexually ansmi ed
in ec ions (STIs) and HIV, which ep esen a signi ican po ion
o p ema u e dea hs wo ldwide, especially among you h. The
impo ance o digi al beha io change in e en ions (DBCI) o
he p e en ion and educ ion o hese diseases is highligh ed,
gi en hei po en ial o each a wide audience e ec i ely and
a scale. These in e en ions, which can be deli e ed h ough
a ious digi al pla o ms such as mobile applica ions, wea a-
ble de ices, and websi es, o e he oppo uni y o implemen
e idence-based s a egies and beha io al heo ies in eal- ime,
adap ing o indi idual and con ex ual needs.
This a icle add esses he issue o sexually ansmi ed
in ec ions (STIs) and HIV, which ep esen a signi ican po -
ion o p ema u e dea hs wo ldwide, especially among you h.
The impo ance o digi al beha io change in e en ions o
p e en ing and educing hese diseases is highligh ed, gi en
hei po en ial o each a b oad audience e ec i ely. These
in e en ions, deli e ed h ough a ious digi al pla o ms such
as mobile applica ions, wea able de ices, and websi es, o e
he oppo uni y o implemen e idence-based s a egies and
beha io al heo ies in eal- ime, adap ing o indi idual and
con ex ual needs.
This a icle add esses he issue o sexually ansmi ed
in ec ions (STIs) and HIV, which ep esen a signi ican po -
ion o p ema u e dea hs wo ldwide, especially among you h.
The impo ance o digi al beha io change in e en ions o
p e en ing and educing hese diseases is highligh ed, gi en
hei po en ial o each a b oad audience e ec i ely and a scale.
These in e en ions, deli e ed h ough a ious digi al pla o ms
such as mobile applica ions, wea able de ices, and websi es,
o e he oppo uni y o implemen e idence-based s a egies
and beha io al heo ies in eal- ime, adap ing o indi idual and
con ex ual needs.
This a icle add esses he issue o sexually ansmi ed
in ec ions (STIs) and HIV, which ep esen a signi ican po -
ion o p ema u e dea hs wo ldwide, especially among you h.
The impo ance o digi al beha io change in e en ions o
p e en ing and educing hese diseases is highligh ed, gi en
hei po en ial o each a b oad audience e ec i ely. These
in e en ions, deli e ed h ough a ious digi al pla o ms such
as mobile applica ions, wea able de ices, and websi es, o e
he oppo uni y o implemen e idence-based s a egies and
beha io al heo ies in eal- ime, adap ing o indi idual and
con ex ual needs.
The main objec i e o his s udy is o conduc a sys ema ic
e iew o e iews o iden i y he ac i e ing edien s o digi-
al beha io change in e en ions used o p e en STIs/HIV,
speci ically ocusing on beha io change echniques acco d-
ing o he Beha io Change Techniques Taxonomy e sion 1.
Syn hesizing his e idence has he po en ial o in o m he
design o u u e in e en ions and p o ide a solid ounda ion
o decision-making in public heal h policies.
Dua e e al.
10.5867/medwa e.2025.02.3020 Medwa e 2025;25(2):e3020 Pg. 5 / 8
Rele an sys ema ic e iews add essing he e icacy o digi al
beha io change in e en ions in STI/HIV p e en ion and
desc ibing he beha io change echniques used a e expec ed
o be selec ed by applying speci ic eligibili y c i e ia. Da a
ex ac ion and syn hesis will be conduc ed igo ously, ollowing
he guidelines es ablished in he e iew p o ocol and using
alida ed ools o assess he isk o bias.
The esul s o his s udy a e expec ed o con ibu e signi i-
can ly o he ield o public heal h, p o iding c ucial in o ma ion
on he mos e ec i e digi al beha io change in e en ions
and key ac o s o hei success ul implemen a ion. Policymak-
e s, heal hca e p o essionals, and in e en ion designe s could
u ilize hese indings o de elop mo e e ec i e s a egies in
STI/HIV p e en ion and sexual heal h p omo ion among he
popula ion.
Con ibu o oles GD: Concep ualiza ion, me hodology, o iginal d a
w i ing, o mal analysis, in es iga ion, w i ing, e iew and edi ing.
SSC and SCM: Concep ualiza ion, me hodology, o iginal d a w i ing,
w i ing, e iew and edi ing, supe ision. DLA: W i ing, e iew and
edi ing, isualiza ion.
Compe ing in e es s The au ho s decla e ha hey ha e no con lic s o
in e es .
Funding GD has he suppo o he Vice-Rec o a e o Resea ch,
Inno a ion and C ea ion (VRIIC) o he Uni e si y o San iago de
Chile as pa o i s academic imp o emen p og am. This wo k has
been suppo ed by he PID2020-115486GB-I00 g an unded by he
Minis y o Science and Inno a ion, MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033,
Go e nmen o Spain; and he esea ch p ojec ANID, Go e nmen
o Chile, he Na ional Scien i ic and Technological De elopmen Fund
-FONDECYT-, e . 1250316.
Language o submission English.
Pee e iew and p o enance No commissioned. Ex e nally pee -
e iewed by wo e iewe s, double-blind.
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Es a egias digi ales y écnicas de cambio de compo amien o
pa a la p e ención de in ecciones de ansmisión sexual:
p o ocolo pa a una e isión de e isiones sis emá icas
RESUMEN
INTRODUCCIÓN Las in ecciones de ansmisión sexual (ITS) son una de las p incipales causas de mo alidad p ema u a, con el
sexo insegu o como un ac o de iesgo p edominan e. Cambia compo amien os sexuales de iesgo y adop a los como hábi os
saludables es cla e pa a mejo a la p e ención de ITS, incluido el VIH, lo que esul a undamen al pa a la salud pública. Los a ances
ecnológicos en in e enciones digi ales han e elado impo an es opo unidades, y las e isiones sis emá icas han e aluado su
e ec i idad. Es as in e enciones digi ales, que u ilizan ecnologías como elé onos mó iles, aplicaciones y disposi i os po á iles, han
mos ado un g an po encial pa a educi la ansmisión de ITS, pa icula men e en e los jó enes, quienes cons i uyen una población
cla e pa a su implemen ación.
OBJETIVO Es e p o ocolo iene como obje i o desc ibi de o ma an icipada una e isión de e isiones sis emá icas des inada a
euni , e alua y sin e iza la e idencia disponible sob e las in e enciones digi ales de cambio de compo amien o pa a la p e ención
de ITS. En pa icula , busca iden i ica las écnicas de cambio de compo amien o más e ec i as, con el in de o ien a el diseño de
in e enciones basadas en e idencia que con ibuyan a educi la ansmisión de ITS.
MÉTODOS Es e p o ocolo de alla una e isión de e isiones sis emá icas. La calidad me odológica de las e isiones incluidas se á
e aluada con la he amien a AMSTAR-2, siguiendo las di ec ices PRISMA-P. Se ealiza án búsquedas exhaus i as en las bases de da os
Coch ane, PubMed, Epis emonikos y PsycINFO. Se inclui án e isiones que e alúen el e ec o de in e enciones digi ales de cambio
de compo amien o pa a p e eni ITS, aba cando ecnologías como elé onos mó iles, aplicaciones y si ios web. Los da os ex aídos
iden i ica án componen es cla e median e la Taxonomía de Técnicas de Cambio de Compo amien o (BCTT 1). Es e p o ocolo es á
egis ado en PROSPERO (CRD42023485887).
RESULTADOS ESPERADOS Se espe a que es a e isión apo e conocimien os eó icos sob e el cambio de compo amien o en la
p e ención de ITS median e in e enciones digi ales, iden i icando las écnicas más e ec i as. Es os hallazgos se i án pa a diseña
in e enciones escalables y basadas en e idencia, especialmen e di igidas a los jó enes, y guia án a los esponsables de polí icas en la
implemen ación de es a egias más e ec i as pa a educi la ansmisión de ITS a ni el global.
This wo k is licensed unde a C ea i e Commons A ibu ion 4.0
In e na ional License.
Digi al s a egies and beha io change echniques o p e en ing sexually ansmi ed in ec ions
10.5867/medwa e.2025.02.3020 Medwa e 2025;25(2):e3020 Pg. 8 / 8
