A Sociolinguistic-enabled Web Application to Develop Precision Health Intervention for African Americans

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This pilot study will explore the preliminary efficacy of a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening intervention delivered by virtual health assistants (VHAs). Participants will include 750 African American patients in the US between the ages of 45 and 75 recruited through Qualtrics panels. The main research question is: How does the integration of different levels of dialect density of the linguistic features of African American English (AAE) influence the perceived credibility of a Black VHA. Four types of VHAs will be presented to our patients: a VHA with Standardized American English (SAE) linguistic features, a VHA with a low level of African American English (AAE) linguistic features integrated, a VHA with a high level of African American English (AAE) linguistic features integrated, and a text-only control condition. Survey questions will be used to obtain credibility judgments about VHAs post-interaction.

Official Title
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A Sociolinguistic-enabled Web Application to Develop Precision Health Intervention for African Americans

Conditions
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Colorectal Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Dialectal Features Varied
* Behavioral: Video Intervention
* Behavioral: VHA with no voice


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Out of guidelines for colorectal cancer screening No fecal immunochemical test within the last 12 months No colonoscopy within the last ten years) Exclusion Criteria: Must meet inclusion criteria

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 45 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Screening
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: 3:2 randomization with a control group
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Interaction with a VHA with voice<br>A virtual health assistant computer-generated doctor who will have a conversation with you. | Behavioral: Dialectal Features Varied<br>* Participants will randomized to interact with a VHA that speaks either Standardized American English, a low level of African American English, or a high level of African American English<br>Behavioral: Video Intervention<br>* Participants will randomized to either receive a video introduction from the voice actor or receive no introduction<br>|
| Active Comparator: Interaction with a VHA without voice<br>A virtual health assistant that will consist of photos of the computer-generated doctor with text that will guide you through the interaction. No voice will accompany the photos or text. | Behavioral: VHA with no voice<br>* virtual health assistant that will consist of photos of the computer-generated doctor with text that will guide you through the interaction. No voice will accompany the photos or text.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Credibility score | The primary outcome in the current pilot study is credibility score. We expect that source credibility is the mechanism through which intentions to screen will be strengthened. Credibility score will be determined on a Source Credibility Scale (McCroskey & Teven, 1999) from 1 to 7, 1 being Credible and 7 being Not Credible. Lower scores indicate VHA credibility. Higher scores indicate a lack of VHA credibility. | 6 months |