Clinical trial NCT03028714: The Impact of Online Quiz-games on Nutrition Knowledge and Related Outcomes Among University Students.
Official title: The Impact of an Educational Intervention on Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Habits, BMI and Physical Activity, in University Students in the United Kingdom (UK).
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Keywords: University
College
University students
Health education
Educational techonology
Internet
Nutrition knowledge
Eating behaviour
Diet
Physical Activity
Weight gain prevention
Lead sponsor: Kingston University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: St George's, University of London
name: King's College London
First posted: 2017-01-23
Enrollment: 88
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 34
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: Metabolic risk factors, such as central obesity, increase the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood and are prevalent in many university students. Increasing the knowledge about healthy nutrition and physical activity can positively impact students' lifestyle and prevent weight gain. This study aims to investigate the impact of online educational methods on nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, BMI, and physical activity in a sample of university students in the UK. Anthropometric measurements will be assessed and questionnaires will be completed at the beginning and at the end of the study. Written consent will be sought, the voluntary nature of participation will be emphasized while anonymity and confidentiality will be strictly maintained.

Detailed description: The intervention is a randomized-controlled trial with two data collection points: one at the beginning and one at the end of the study. The study will include healthy students from two UK Universities, who they will be randomly assigned either to the intervention or to the control group. Participants in both groups will be asked to undertake measurements and complete questionnaires before and after the study. Measurements include the assessment of BMI, body fat, lean mass, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and blood glucose. In addition, nutrition knowledge and dietary habits will be estimated using online questionnaires as well as the level of physical activity using the IPAQ questionnaire and pedometers. Participants in the intervention group will receive access to an educational website including information about fruit and vegetables, fat, sugars, fast-food, meat, salt, meals and snacks, food labels, exercise, and alcohol. Each category will be linked to an online quiz-game that will include questions related to the topic. Students will be asked to play the games as much as they want to improve their knowledge scores. Access to the website and the games will be available for 10 weeks. Participants in the control group will receive no intervention. After 10 weeks, participants will be asked to undertake the same measurements and complete the same questionnaires as they did in the beginning of the study. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an online educational intervention, using game elements, on the level of nutrition knowledge of students, as well as, whether any changes in knowledge impact changes in dietary habits, physical activity and weight-related factors.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Currently studying at Kingston University, London or at St George's, University of London, as an undergraduate or postgraduate student or undertaking research within one of the two organizations.
* Aged between 18 and 34 years.
* Generally, in good health.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not currently studying at Kingston University, London or at St George's, University of London.
* Less than 18 or more than 34 years old.
* Suffering a long-term disease or condition that requires a special treatment or diet.
* Suffering a mobility impairment or injury that doesn't allow undertaking moderate physical activity.
* Pregnant or breast-feeding.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Level of nutrition knowledge (score in units)
timeFrame: One year
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Dietary habits (score in units)
timeFrame: One year
measure: Physical activity [vigorous activity (days/week, minutes/week), moderate activity (days/week, minutes/week), walking (days/week, minutes/week), sitting time (minutes/week)].
timeFrame: One year
measure: Physical activity (number of steps/week).
timeFrame: One year
measure: Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2)
timeFrame: 1 year
measure: Body fat (%)
timeFrame: 1 year
measure: Lean mass (kg)
timeFrame: 1 year
measure: Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)
timeFrame: 1 year
measure: Blood pressure (mmHg)
timeFrame: 1 year
measure: Blood glucose (mmol/l)
timeFrame: 1 year
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: London
country: United Kingdom
facility: Kingston University, London & St George's, University of London
Study officials:
affiliation: Kingston University, London
name: Katerina Belogianni, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Kliemann N, Wardle J, Johnson F, Croker H. Reliability and validity of a revised version of the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2016 Oct;70(10):1174-1180. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.87. Epub 2016 Jun 1.
citation: Leppala J, Lagstrom H, Kaljonen A, Laitinen K. Construction and evaluation of a self-contained index for assessment of diet quality. Scand J Public Health. 2010 Dec;38(8):794-802. doi: 10.1177/1403494810382476. Epub 2010 Sep 16.
citation: Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjostrom M, Bauman AE, Booth ML, Ainsworth BE, Pratt M, Ekelund U, Yngve A, Sallis JF, Oja P. International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1381-95. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB.