The Plant-Based and Soul-Full Study (PASS)

University of South Carolina

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dietary Modification

Treatments: Behavioral: Dietary Intervention: Restaurant; Behavioral: Dietary Intervention: Standard/Grocery

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03565718

Pro00076585

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this study is to examine if exposure to vegan soul food restaurants can increase African American adults' perceived benefits of consuming plant-based foods more so than standard guidelines. Although the health benefits of vegan diets are well documented, many people are reluctant to commit to a vegan diet long term. Various issues like food preparation, a lack of social support, or other barriers are often mentioned as reasons why people can't be vegan. This study will (1) find out if short term exposure (i.e. 3 weeks) to culturally tailored curriculum focusing on the health benefits of consuming plant-based foods increases African American adults' perceptions of adopting a vegan diet. And (2) if eating out a few times a week at vegan soul food restaurants can further increase African American adults' perceived benefits of a vegan than having to prepare all meals at home.

Full description

The goal of this study is to examine if exposure to vegan soul food restaurants can increase African American adults' perceived benefits of consuming plant-based foods more so than standard guidelines. Although the health benefits of vegan diets are well documented, many people are reluctant to commit to a vegan diet long term. Various issues like food preparation, a lack of social support, or other barriers are often mentioned as reasons why people can't be vegan. This study will (1) find out if short term exposure (i.e. 3 weeks) to culturally tailored curriculum focusing on the health benefits of consuming plant-based foods increases African American adults' perceptions of adopting a vegan diet. And (2) if eating out a few times a week at vegan soul food restaurants can further increase African American adults' perceived benefits of a vegan than having to prepare all meals at home.

Study participants will receive counseling and informational materials from a trained research assistant to follow a vegan diet for 3 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a standard group or a restaurant group. The standard group will receive gift cards to shop at local super markets. The restaurant group will receive gift cards to eat out a few times a week at local vegan soul food restaurants. Changes in individuals' perceived benefits and barriers to consuming plant-based foods will be assessed with a validated survey at baseline and at the end of the 3 week period.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Self-identify as African American
• Be between the ages of 18-65 years
• Live in the Columbia, SC/Midlands area
• Be able to attend all meetings with the study coordinator
• Be willing to be randomized to either condition

Exclusion criteria

• Currently following a vegan diet
• Under the age of 18 years old
• Over the age of 65 years old
• Not willing to attend meetings with the study coordinator
• Not willing to be randomized to either condition

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive counseling, informational materials, and recipes for following a vegan diet. Participants in this group will receive gift cards to go shopping at their local supermarkets and follow the diet for 3 weeks. At the end of the 3 week period each participant will have a follow-up meeting and provide feedback to the study personnel. The Dietary Intervention: Standard/Grocery includes intervention meetings and dietary counseling.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Dietary Intervention: Standard/Grocery

Restaurant Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive counseling, informational materials, and recipes for following a vegan diet. Participants in this group will receive gift cards to go and eat out a few times a week at local vegan soul food restaurants and follow the diet for 3 weeks. At the end of the 3 week period each participant will have a follow-up meeting and provide feedback to the study personnel. The Dietary Intervention: Restaurant condition includes intervention meetings and dietary counseling.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Dietary Intervention: Restaurant