Evaluating Taste and Health Messaging in Short Nutrition Education Videos to Improve Diet Quality

Overview

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of taste vs. health messaging using nutrition education videos. The nutrition education videos teach Americans the benefits of using herbs and spices to increase diet quality. The investigators aim to test the effectiveness of 10 short videos (5 taste-based messaging and 5 health-based messaging) that translate previous findings of how spices can improve diet quality. These objectives will be pursued via the following hypothesis: Hypothesis 1: Are taste messaging videos more effective in improving consumer interest, knowledge, and confidence in using herbs and spices compared to health messaging focused videos? Hypothesis 2: Will consumers rate the taste messaging videos higher for liking, engagement, and acceptability of herbs and spices compared to health messaging focused videos?

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the first group (n=500) will receive the taste messaging focused videos emphasizing taste and flavor, while the second group (n=500) will receive the health messaging focused videos emphasizing the importance of using herbs to improve health. Randomization will occur through REDCap and the randomization feature will be embedded in the survey. Both groups will have access to similar educational content but the focus of the messaging will differ according to the taste or health focused arm. The participants will also complete screening questions first, and if eligible, an online consent form, demographics questionnaire, pre implementation questionnaire via REDCap, data on the participants interest, knowledge and confidence in using spices and herbs before watching the video and then watch 5 videos of either the taste or health focused messaging video (dependent on randomization). Once completed, participants will then complete a post implementation questionnaire, and a post-intervention REDCap survey that will ask about their interest, knowledge and intent in using spices and herbs as well as their feedback on the effectiveness of the videos. The investigators will use the pre and post intervention surveys for analysis. All participants will complete the survey questions online using their own device. The survey will also include more detailed participant information and gather feedback on the implementation of recipes in their own kitchens.