Principal Findings
SECONDARY
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of a theory-based SIM delivered via web-based animated videos on the intention and willingness to sext among diploma students. The secondary outcomes assessed in this study included knowledge, attitude, perceived norms, and prototype perceptions. At the end of 3 months postintervention, the intervention group demonstrated a significant decrease in the intention and willingness to sext as well as a significant improvement in knowledge, attitude, perceived norms, and prototype perceptions among the intervention group compared to the control group.The changes in the primary and secondary outcomes following the intervention were likely attributed to the PWM constructs and the web-based animated video delivered in this study. Theoretically, sexting is a complex behavior that has been explained by a few theories including PWM. The application of PWM in this intervention allowed a systematic approach to developing the intervention, thus making it easier to develop a storyboard for the animated video. The constructs of PWM, including attitude, perceived norms, and prototype perceptions that have been addressed in the animated videos, led to a significant reduction in the intention and willingness to sext. Furthermore, the use of web-based animated video could have improved the understanding of the module's content since this approach has been recognized as an effective tool for explaining and simplifying complex topics [In view of the lack of interventional research on the intention and willingness to sext and sexting-related issues, the findings of this study were compared to other relevant studies that assessed the intention and willingness of risky behaviors. Our findings on the intention to sext were consistent with a study that applied the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the theory of reasoned action (TRA), and PWM in the intervention to measure the intention to commit sexual harassment [Moreover, there was a significant effect of the intervention on the willingness to sext. This finding was consistent with a study that measured the willingness to assist individuals at risk of sexual assault [Next, a greater effect of this intervention was observed on the knowledge of sexting. This was consistent with a previous study [