Clinical trial NCT03565718: The Plant-Based and Soul-Full Study (PASS)
Official title: The Plant-Based and Soul-Full Study: Increasing African American Adults' Perceived Benefits of Consuming Plant-Based Foods
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Dietary Modification
Lead sponsor: University of South Carolina
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
First posted: 2018-06-21
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: 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.

Detailed 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.

Eligibility criteria: 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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Dietary acceptability using the Food Acceptability Questionnaire
timeFrame: Baseline and three weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Body weight using a digital scale
timeFrame: Baseline and three weeks
measure: Perceptions of Plant-based diets using the Perceived Barriers and Benefits Questionnaire
timeFrame: Baseline and three weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Columbia
country: United States
facility: University of South Carolina
state: South Carolina
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Southern California
name: Brie Turner-McGrievy
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: