Virtual Human Delivered Nutrition Module for Colorectal Cancer Prevention

University of Florida

Status: Completed

Conditions: Colorectal Cancer

Treatments: Other: virtual technology - low interactive; Other: non-colorectal cancer related module; Other: virtual technology - high interactive

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04192071

3R01CA207689-03S2 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

OCR27722 (Other Identifier)

IRB201902537 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study uses the opinions of adults between the ages of 45 and 73 years old to develop and test an interactive nutrition module for use in an existing colorectal cancer screening intervention using virtual human technology. The main questions answered include:

• What content do adults want to receive from a web-based interaction about colorectal cancer screening and nutritional risks for colorectal cancer?
• Does a brief interaction with a virtual human delivering tailored cancer prevention information impact cancer prevention intentions and attitudes among a national sample of geographically rural U.S. adults?

This study will contribute to knowledge of what messages and graphics promote understanding of cancer risk and promote screening with the potential to promote behaviors that reduce cancer risk.

Full description

The study occurred in two phases. Phase one was a qualitative aim that collected feedback from participants in iterative cycles of focus groups and individual think-aloud interviews. Phase one feedback was analyzed and applied to develop a tailored, web-based prototype that addressed participant desires for an intervention to address colorectal cancer prevention and nutrition risk education. The prototype was a brief conversation delivered by an interactive Virtual Health Assistant (virtual character with audio and visual elements that mimic a conversation with a human).

Enrollment: 139 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 45 to 73 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligible adults will be between 45 -73 years old,
• Proficient in English and
• Geographically residing in rural areas (based on zip code)
• Identify as Black or White racial identity

Exclusion:

• Completed a colonoscopy in the past 10 years
• Completed a sigmoidoscopy in the past 5 years
• Completed a home stool test in the past 12 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Screening

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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139 participants in 3 patient groups

high interactive virtual human administered nutrition module

Active Comparator group

Description:

The virtual health assistant will interactively collect nutrition information (alcohol, red meat, and processed meat intake) and report risk information back to users in visual and audio format

Treatment:

Other: virtual technology - high interactive

low interactive virtual human module

Active Comparator group

Description:

Complete the current intervention module that includes items assessing alcohol and meat intake.

Treatment:

Other: virtual technology - low interactive

attention control module

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The attention control group, will complete a related module not related to colorectal cancer or nutrition

Treatment:

Other: non-colorectal cancer related module