The aim of this study is to examine emerging adults' responses to dietary substitution messages about health, the environment, or both health and the environment.
This online study will examine emerging adults' responses to dietary substitution messages about 4 different topics. Participants will be randomized to 1 of 4 topic arms: 1) Control (neutral topic, not related to health or the environment); 2) Health topic; 3) Environment topic; 4) Health and Environment topic. Participants will view messages about each of 4 dietary substitutions: replacing red meat with chicken or vegetarian options; replacing dairy milk with non-dairy milk; replacing juice with whole fruit; and replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with water. For each dietary substitution, participants will view 2 messages about their assigned topic, with the 2 messages shown in random order. Participants will rate each message on perceived message effectiveness (primary outcome).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,753
Participants view messages about the health impacts of certain dietary substitutions.
Participants view messages about the environmental impacts of certain dietary substitutions.
Participants view messages about the health and environmental impacts of certain dietary substitutions.
Stanford School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California, United States
Perceived Message Effectiveness
Participants will rate each message on perceived message effectiveness (PME) for encouraging participants to make the target dietary substitution. PME will be assessed with 4 items \[the text shown in brackets will be tailored to each substitution\]: 1. How much does this message discourage you from wanting to \[eat beef and pork / drink juice / drink cow's milk / drink sugary drinks\]? 2. How much does this message make \[eating beef and pork, etc.\] seem unpleasant to you? 3. How much does this message make you concerned about the effects of \[eating beef and pork, etc.\]? 4. How much does this message make you want to \[eat chicken or vegetarian options instead of beef and pork, etc.\]? The response options for each item are: 1=Not at all, 2=Very little, 3=Somewhat, 4=Quite a bit, 5=A great deal. Investigators will average responses to these 4 items to create a perceived message effectiveness score. Higher scores indicated higher perceived message effectiveness.
Time frame: Survey questions administered after participant viewed each message; overall survey took up to 20 minutes
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Participants view neutral messages unrelated to the health and environmental impacts of certain dietary substitutions.