Procedures
potentially reduced social
Eligible participants were automatically randomized at enrollment to intervention or control groups using an automated computerized blocked randomization algorithm, with randomization stratified by state (to ensure group proportions remained relatively constant) and college/university type (two-year technical school, community college, four-year state college/university, four-year private college/university, or other). This ensured that the proportion of friends in each state assigned to each group remained relatively constant during the study. Research assistants were not blinded to study condition. Once participants consented and were enrolled and randomized, they received an automated email at the safe email address provided at enrollment, which provided their username and password and instructed them how to access the study site. Intervention group participants could download the app or access a browser-based version from the study website. Participants entered their username and password on first use and were prompted to create a private 4-digit security PIN code for future access. The PIN could be reset by logging out and back in using their username and password.The myPlan intervention for concerned friends includes the following sections: [
Example of feedback on priority-setting exerciseControl group participants accessed safety planning via a secure study website and received basic emergency safety planning strategies to support a friend, and where to find information or help on campus or via websites geared toward college students. This “usual care” approach was not individualized (e.g., it did not provide tailored feedback or interactive sections, or generate a plan with tailored strategies based on input). Rather, the static emergency safety plan was the same for all users; it provided two resources (national IPV hotline and national LGBTQ hotline) and did not provide comprehensive safety information or resources beyond emergency safety planning. A detailed description of the approach for both groups is provided in the published study protocol [Participants completed all data collection via the secure app/website, which allowed them to complete surveys at their convenience, helped reduce data input error, and potentially reduced social desirability bias compared to face-to-face interviews [