Impact of Behavioral Economic Strategies on Low-Income Older Adults' Food Choices in Online Retail Settings

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The specific aims of this proposal are to 1) develop the components of a behavioral economics strategy (i.e., healthy bundle defaults) to influence diet behaviors; 2) characterize the online grocery shopping behaviors and attitudes of low-income adults nationally; and 3) examine the extent to which healthy bundles defaults and other behavioral economic strategies increase fruit and vegetable purchases among low-income adults in an online randomized controlled experiment.

Official Title
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Impact of Behavioral Economic Strategies on Low-Income Older Adults' Food Choices in Online Retail Settings

Conditions
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Diet Habit

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Simulated Grocery Shopping Exercise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: aged 18-99 years ability to read and speak English have ever received SNAP benefits live with fewer than 5 people access to a personal computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Exclusion Criteria: aged <18 years or >99 years lack the ability to read and speak English have never received SNAP benefits live with 5 or more people do not have access to a personal computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Sham Comparator: Control<br>The grocery shopping simulation will not include any discounts or bundles | Behavioral: Simulated Grocery Shopping Exercise<br>* Participants will click a link and simulate a shopping experience by selecting a week's worth of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible groceries for their household in a web-based supermarket platform<br>|
| Active Comparator: Discount<br>The grocery shopping simulation will include discount on eligible fruits and vegetables | Behavioral: Simulated Grocery Shopping Exercise<br>* Participants will click a link and simulate a shopping experience by selecting a week's worth of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible groceries for their household in a web-based supermarket platform<br>|
| Active Comparator: Bundles<br>The grocery shopping simulation will include healthy bundle defaults with no discount | Behavioral: Simulated Grocery Shopping Exercise<br>* Participants will click a link and simulate a shopping experience by selecting a week's worth of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible groceries for their household in a web-based supermarket platform<br>|
| Active Comparator: Bundles and Discount<br>The grocery shopping simulation will include healthy bundle defaults plus a discount | Behavioral: Simulated Grocery Shopping Exercise<br>* Participants will click a link and simulate a shopping experience by selecting a week's worth of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible groceries for their household in a web-based supermarket platform<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Real Dollars Spent on Fruit and Vegetables Per Basket | Fruits and vegetables are defined as frozen, fresh, and canned fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt. | Day 1 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Real Dollars Spent on Eligible Fruits Only | Eligible Fruits are defined as fruit items identified as discounted in the online store. | Day 1 | 
| Real Dollars Spent on Eligible Vegetables Only | Eligible Vegetables are defined as vegetable items identified as discounted in the online store. | Day 1 | 
| Real Dollars Spent on Eligible Fresh Fruits and Vegetables | Eligible Fresh Fruits and Vegetables are defined as fresh, not frozen or canned, fruit and vegetables items identified as discounted in the online store. | Day 1 | 
| Real Dollars Spent on Eligible Frozen Fruits and Vegetables | Eligible Frozen Fruits and Vegetables are defined as frozen fruit and vegetables items identified as discounted in the online store. | Day 1 | 
| Real Dollars Spent on Eligible Canned Fruits and Vegetables | Eligible Canned Fruits and Vegetables are defined as canned fruit and vegetables items identified as discounted in the online store. | Day 1 | 
| Total Calories From Fruits and Vegetables Per Basket | Fruits and vegetables are defined as frozen, fresh, and canned fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt. | Day 1 | 
| Number of Participants Who Purchased Fruits and/or Vegetables | Participants who purchased fruits and/or vegetables during their online shopping trip. | Day 1 | 
| Number of Participants Who Kept Healthy Bundle Default Shopping Cart Items in Basket at Purchase | Healthy Bundle Default Shopping Cart Items are defined as items placed automatically in participants' carts at the beginning of the shopping exercise. Assessed among participants in the Bundles (Arm 3) and Bundles + Discount (Arm 4) arms only. | Day 1 |