This study uses the opinions of adults between the ages of 45 and 73 years old to develop and test an interactive nutrition module for use in an existing colorectal cancer screening intervention using virtual human technology. The main questions answered include: * What content do adults want to receive from a web-based interaction about colorectal cancer screening and nutritional risks for colorectal cancer? * Does a brief interaction with a virtual human delivering tailored cancer prevention information impact cancer prevention intentions and attitudes among a national sample of geographically rural U.S. adults? This study will contribute to knowledge of what messages and graphics promote understanding of cancer risk and promote screening with the potential to promote behaviors that reduce cancer risk.
The study occurred in two phases. Phase one was a qualitative aim that collected feedback from participants in iterative cycles of focus groups and individual think-aloud interviews. Phase one feedback was analyzed and applied to develop a tailored, web-based prototype that addressed participant desires for an intervention to address colorectal cancer prevention and nutrition risk education. The prototype was a brief conversation delivered by an interactive Virtual Health Assistant (virtual character with audio and visual elements that mimic a conversation with a human).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SCREENING
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
139
Participants engage with web-based cancer prevention content and answer a short series of questions designed to assess their baseline risk for colon cancer and dietary intake. Interactive nutrition risk feedback will be customized based on user input.
Participants engage with web-based cancer prevention content and answer a short series of questions designed to assess their baseline risk for colon cancer. Minimally interactive risk feedback will be delivered.
Participants engage with web-based content not related to colorectal cancer or nutrition.
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Risk Perceptions for Colorectal Cancer
Items measured on a 7-point Likert scale, (e.g. "My chances of getting colorectal cancer are high"), where 1 is strongly disagree and 7 is strongly agree.
Time frame: up to 2 hours
Intentions to Screen for Colorectal Cancer
Two individual items assessed intentions to screen: 1. A single item measured intentions to screen for colorectal cancer (readiness to screen) adapted from (Boonyasiriwat, Hung, Hon, et. al, 2014.) Participants answer the following prompt: "Please indicate what best represents your plans for colorectal cancer screening". Response options str: 1 point = I am not planning to screen in the next 6 months; 2 points = I am thinking about screen, but not in the next 6 months; 3 points = I am considering screening in the next 6 months and 4 points for = I am already taking steps to screen in the next 6 months. Higher scores =higher readiness to screen (better outcome). Min. score = 1 ; Max. score =4. 2. a single item assessed intentions on a Likert Scale. Question: "I want to get screened for colorectal cancer" where: 1 = strongly disagree-7 = strongly agree). Min. score = 1 - Max. score is 7. Higher scores indicate a stronger desire to obtain screening (better outcome).
Time frame: up to 2 hours
Information Seeking Behavior
Does participant click on link to more information. The survey platforms event tracking feature will be used to track clicks (yes/no) for more information.
Time frame: up to 2 hours
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