The goal of this clinical trial is to use crowdsourcing to test the effects of a message source (expert and peer) and message presentation types (one-sided and two-sided) to identify the optimal message type for young adults who vape and do not vape.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
848
Participants will view a brief description of an expert source and see one-sided e-cigarette education messages.
Participants will view a brief description of an expert source and see two-sided e-cigarette education messages.
Participants will view a brief description of a peer source and see one-sided e-cigarette education messages.
UMass Chan Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Message Acceptance
Participants' self-reported message acceptance were measured by using a five-point Likert scale using five items assessing whether participants thought the message was worth remembering, grabbed their attention, powerful, convincing, and meaningful on a scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Items were summed and averaged to create a single composite score, and this was done for each arm for each vaping status. Higher scores indicate more more message acceptance, therefore better outcomes.
Time frame: After exposure to each messages (approximately up to 20 minutes total), measured during a single study visit on Day 1.
Harm Perceptions
Harm perceptions was measured by a single item e-cigarette harm perceptions question assessing participants' perceived absolute harm of e-cigarette use on a scale from 1 (Not at all harmful) to 10 (Very harmful). Items were summed and averaged to create a single composite score. This was done for each vaping status (current vapers and susceptible non-vapers). Higher scores indicate greater vaping harm perceptions, therefore indicating better outcome.
Time frame: After exposure to each messages (approximately up to 20 minutes total), measured during a single study visit on Day 1.
Negative Cognition
Negative cognition was measured by six-item reactance questionnaire, such as perceptions of messages being manipulative, misleading, distorted, overblown, exaggerated, and overstated on a scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater negative cognition, indicating worse outcome.
Time frame: After exposure to each messages (approximately up to 20 minutes total), measured during a single study visit on Day 1.
Message Anger
Message anger was measured by four item message anger question assessing the extent to which the messages made participants feel irritated, angry, annoyed, and aggravated on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much). Items were summed and averaged. This was done for each vaping status (current vapers and susceptible non-vapers). Higher scores indicate greater anger toward messages, indicating worse outcomes.
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Participants will view a brief description of a peer source and see two-sided e-cigarette education messages.
Time frame: After exposure to each messages (approximately up to 20 minutes total), measured during a single study visit on Day 1.
Message Liking
Message liking will be measured by a single-item liking of the message on scale from 1 (Dislike very much) to 5 (Like very much). Items were summed and averaged to create a single composite score. This was done for each vaping status (current vapers and susceptible non-vapers). Higher scores indicate greater message liking, therefore indicating better outcome.
Time frame: After exposure to each messages (approximately up to 20 minutes total), measured during a single study visit on Day 1.
Source Trust
Source trust was measured by a single-item trust in health information source questionnaire, such as trust in source about vaping information on a scale from 1(Not at all) to 5 (Very much so). Items were summed and averaged to create a single composite score. This was done for each vaping status (current vapers and susceptible non-vapers). Higher scores indicate greater source trust, therefore indicating better outcome
Time frame: After exposure to each messages (approximately up to 20 minutes total), measured during a single study visit on Day 1.
Attitudes
Participants' self-reported vaping attitudes were measured by using a five-point bipolar scale using 7 subscale items assessing whether participants thought vaping was enjoyable, healthy, safe, fun, smart, cool, and attractive on a scale from 1 (negative attitudes) to 5 (positive attitudes). Items were summed and averaged to create a single composite score, and this was done for each arm for each vaping status. Higher scores indicate more positive e-cigarette attitudes, therefore worse outcomes.
Time frame: After exposure to all messages (approximately up to 45 minutes), measured during a single study visit on Day 1.
Behavioral Intentions to Vape or Try Vaping
Participants' vaping or vaping trial intentions were measured by using a 3 subscale items assessing participants' intentions to vape: soon/anytime during the next year/would use offered by one of their best friends, on a scale from 1 (Definitely not) to 5 (Definitely yes). Items were summed and averaged to create a single composite score. This was done for each vaping status (current vapers and susceptible non-vapers). Higher scores indicate greater vaping intentions, therefore indicating worse outcome.
Time frame: After exposure to all messages (approximately up to 45 minutes), measured during a single study visit on Day 1.