Testing Different Messaging Approaches to Increase Activation of a HealthyFood Benefit in Adults With Diabetes
Testing the Effectiveness of Different Messaging Approaches to Increase Activation of a HealthyFood Benefit Amongst Individuals With Diabetes: A Randomised, Controlled Trial
1 other identifier
interventional
5,467
0 countries
N/A
Brief Summary
The Vitality HealthyFood benefit is a three-tiered incentive program designed to encourage healthier food choices amongst members of Discovery Health's Vitality program. Once enrolled in the benefit, participating members can receive 10%, 15%, or 25% cash-back on the healthy foods they purchase at selected grocers. And, while overall enrollment in the program is high, there is particular interest in increasing enrollment in the benefit amongst Vitality members with diabetes. One presumed barrier to enrollment in the benefit amongst members with diabetes is a misperception of the particular relevance of the benefit and healthier food choices for their personal health. Improved messaging regarding the HealthyFood benefit and its particular salience for individuals with diabetes may be an effective means of increasing activation of the benefit in this population. The proposed study will be a collaboration between Discovery Health/Vitality and researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In the proposed RCT, Vitality members with diabetes will be randomised to different types of messages regarding the HealthyFood benefit. The investigators will then compare the effectiveness of these different messaging strategies at increasing activation of the HealthyFood benefit amongst Vitality members with diabetes.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable diabetes
Started Jun 2015
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable diabetes
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
May 30, 2015
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
June 1, 2015
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
June 3, 2015
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
July 1, 2015
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
July 1, 2015
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
November 9, 2018
CompletedNovember 9, 2018
April 1, 2018
1 month
May 30, 2015
August 28, 2017
April 13, 2018
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Enrollment in 10% Level of Benefit
Rates of enrolment in 10% cash-back level (the most basic level, requires online activation only) of the HealthyFood Benefit amongst members with diabetes
One month from initial emailed messages
Study Arms (5)
Control Arm
NO INTERVENTIONThis arm will represent current practice. This group will receive no contact from the research team. They may receive information regarding the benefit from the Vitality marketing team during the intervention period and can enroll in the benefit at any time during the study period.
Diabetes-specific
ACTIVE COMPARATORThis group will receive a message which simply cites the two specific benefits of the eating more healthy foods for individuals with diabetes. This message contains a link to start the enrolment process.
Experience of another member
ACTIVE COMPARATORThis group will receive a message that includes a quote from the perspective of a Vitality member with diabetes who uses the HealthyFood benefit. Given the need to standardise message content across study arms, the quote was written by the study team and not an actual member. The quote emphasizes the positive impact the benefit has had for the member-both the financial benefit, as well as the two specific diabetes health benefits.
Input from a diabetes expert
ACTIVE COMPARATORThis group will receive a message that includes a quote from a South African physician who specializes in diabetes. The quote emphasises the financial benefit and the two specific diabetes health benefits of the HealthyFood program included in the other messages. It concludes with the doctor's recommendation of the benefit for all individuals with diabetes.
Enhanced active choice
ACTIVE COMPARATORThis group will receive a message whose first portion is identical to those in the diabetes-specific message group. The second portion of the message differs in that instead of just asking recipients to click on the provided link if interested, the message asks people to choose and click on one of following possible responses: 1. Yes! I want to active the HealthyFood benefit and get up to 25% cash back on the healthy food I buy at Pick n Pay or Woolworths 2. No, I'd prefer not to activate and continue paying full price for my healthy food purchases
Interventions
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Adults over age 18
- Vitality health members who have not yet enrolled in the Vitality HealthyFood benefit
- Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (based on registration for chronic benefits for type 2 diabetes)
- Have registered on to Discovery Health/Vitality website in the past (marker of Internet access and availability of email address)
You may not qualify if:
- Anyone who does not meet above criteria
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- University of Pennsylvanialead
- Discovery Healthcollaborator
Related Publications (1)
Gopalan A, Paramanund J, Shaw PA, Patel D, Friedman J, Brophy C, Buttenheim AM, Troxel AB, Asch DA, Volpp KG. Randomised controlled trial of alternative messages to increase enrolment in a healthy food programme among individuals with diabetes. BMJ Open. 2016 Nov 30;6(11):e012009. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012009.
PMID: 27903559DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Anjali Gopalan
- Organization
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- No
- Restrictive Agreement
- No
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- VA Advanced Fellow, Philadelphia VA Medical Center
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
May 30, 2015
First Posted
June 3, 2015
Study Start
June 1, 2015
Primary Completion
July 1, 2015
Study Completion
July 1, 2015
Last Updated
November 9, 2018
Results First Posted
November 9, 2018
Record last verified: 2018-04