Determining the effectiveness of art therapy using creative theater in reducing HIV-related stigma in nursing students
Design
A randomized, parallel-group, open-label clinical trial with a control group conducted on 60 nursing students. Block randomization was used for allocation.
Settings and conduct
Eligible nursing students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences will be enrolled. Participants will be randomly assigned using block randomization to intervention and control groups. The study is open-label; both participants and the interventionist are aware of group allocation.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Nursing students who have acceptable information about HIV, and nursing students who have entered clinical and hospital departments.
Exclusion criteria:
Nursing students who are in a period of neurological and psychiatric problems and disorders, and nursing students who are undergoing treatment with neurological and psychiatric drugs and even psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.
Intervention groups
Intervention group: Nursing students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences who participate in six weekly 60-minute Creative Theater sessions. The sessions include dramatic activities and improvisation exercises aimed at reducing HIV-related stigma (Sources: Amini, 2017; Kianian).
Control group: Nursing students who do not receive the intervention; after the study, the same workshop will be offered to them.
Main outcome variables
Internalized anxiety level; perceived discrimination; perceived fear of HIV transmission; HIV-related social judgment; HIV-related stigma
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20250516065759N1
Registration date:2025-12-19, 1404/09/28
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2025-12-19, 1404/09/28
Update count:0
Registration date
2025-12-19, 1404/09/28
Registrant information
Name
Pegah Mirzapour
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 21 6687 5100
Email address
pegah.mirzapour@gmail.com
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-01-21, 1404/11/01
Expected recruitment end date
2026-05-21, 1405/02/31
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Investigating the effectiveness of art therapy using creative theater in reducing HIV-related stigma in nursing students
Public title
Investigating the effectiveness of creative theater in reducing HIV-related social stigma among nursing students
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Nursing students who have acceptable knowledge about HIV.
Nursing students who have entered clinical and hospital departments.
Exclusion criteria:
Nursing students who are in a period of neurological and psychiatric problems and disorders.
Nursing students who are undergoing treatment with neurological and psychiatric drugs and even psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.
Age
No age limit
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
60
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Initially, nursing students will be selected through random sampling. Then, participants will be allocated to the intervention and control groups using the block randomization method. In this 60-participant clinical trial (30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group), 10 blocks of six participants each will be created, with three participants assigned to the intervention group and three to the control group within each block. The block random sequence will be generated using Random Allocation Software (version 1.0, Saghaei, 2004).
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee for Research of Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex
Street address
Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, End of Keshavarz Boulevard
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1419733141
Approval date
2024-12-31, 1403/10/11
Ethics committee reference number
IR.TUMS.IKHC.REC.1403.431
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
HIV
ICD-10 code
B20
ICD-10 code description
Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Social stigma associated with HIV
Timepoint
The study outcomes will be measured at two time points: before the intervention (pre-test) and two weeks after the completion of the intervention (post-test).
Method of measurement
HIV-related social stigma assessment questionnaire
2
Description
Internalized anxiety
Timepoint
The study outcomes will be measured at two time points: before the intervention (pre-test) and two weeks after the completion of the intervention (post-test).
Method of measurement
HIV-related social stigma assessment questionnaire
3
Description
Perceived discrimination
Timepoint
The study outcomes will be measured at two time points: before the intervention (pre-test) and two weeks after the completion of the intervention (post-test).
Method of measurement
HIV-related social stigma assessment questionnaire
4
Description
Perceived fear of HIV transmission
Timepoint
The study outcomes will be measured at two time points: before the intervention (pre-test) and two weeks after the completion of the intervention (post-test).
Method of measurement
HIV-related social stigma assessment questionnaire
5
Description
HIV-related social judgment
Timepoint
The study outcomes will be measured at two time points: before the intervention (pre-test) and two weeks after the completion of the intervention (post-test).
Method of measurement
HIV-related social stigma assessment questionnaire
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group:The intervention group consists of nursing students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences who participate in six group sessions of creative theatre. The sessions are held once a week, with each session lasting 60 minutes. The sessions are facilitated by the principal investigator, who has academic training in theatre and experience in conducting creative theatre and working with student groups. The sessions are conducted in an appropriate space that allows for flexible seating arrangements and sufficient room for group movement, with the intervention focusing on the body, movement, and group interaction. The session content includes dramatic activities, role-playing, and improvisational exercises designed based on pedagogical theatre (Rahmat Amini, 2017) and creative theatre (Davoud Kianian). The content covers group introduction and trust-building, experiencing different roles and social situations related to HIV, and confronting stigmatizing situations in healthcare settings through role-playing.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: Nursing students who receive no intervention during the study period. After the study is completed, a similar workshop will be offered to this group to ensure ethical standards are met.
Category
Behavior
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS
Full name of responsible person
Ladan Abbasian
Street address
Building 6 (Infectious Diseases Building), Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, End of Keshavarz
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1419733141
Phone
+98 21 6658 1583
Email
la.abbasian@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Ramin Kordi
Street address
7th Floor, Central Organization, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Corner of Ghods Street, Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, Iran
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1417653761
Phone
+98 21 6649 2271
Email
vcr@tums.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?