Clinical trial NCT03248583: Decision-Making Processes While Online Grocery Shopping
Official title: Decision-Making Processes While Online Grocery Shopping
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Nutrition Poor
Keywords: Proof-of-principle
Feasibility
Lead sponsor: University at Albany
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-08-14
Enrollment: 60
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: Individuals living with food insecurity are disproportionately affected by overweight and obesity and associated chronic health problems. There remains a lack of sustainable and scalable interventions targeting widespread barriers to access to healthy foods in this population to increase the nutritional quality of foods purchased for preparation and consumption at home.

This randomized controlled proof-of-principle trial was designed to examine the feasibility and initial efficacy of a "default option" in enhancing the nutritional quality of groceries selected via the online shopping service of a local grocery store under conditions that mimic the financial constraints typical of individuals living with food insecurity.

In behavioral economics, the "default option" refers to the option a consumer selects if no active choice is made. The notion of the default option is based on the concept of "asymmetrical" or "libertarian paternalism," which seeks to subtly shift consumer behavior in a manner that promotes welfare, but without overtly interfering with the individual's freedom to choose.

It was hypothesized that the "default" option effectively increases the nutritional quality of foods purchased online, compared to monetary incentives and psychoeducation about nutrition.

Female undergraduate students (n = 60) selected food for one week using the online shopping service of a local grocery store with a budget corresponding to maximum weekly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Before completing the task again, participants were randomized to: (1) a small monetary "incentive" for selecting groceries that meet nutritional guidelines (n = 17), (2) an "educational" brochure (n = 24), or (3) a "default" pre-filled online shopping cart containing a nutritionally balanced selection of groceries to which they could freely make changes (n = 18).

Primary outcome measures capture the nutritional quality of groceries selected/ purchased.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* age 18 or older
* fluent in written and spoken English
* able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* significant dietary restrictions (i.e., meat avoidance, food allergies, religious dietary restrictions, etc.)
* likely presence of current eating disorder diagnosis (score \>/= 2 on SCOFF screening measure)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Nutritional quality
timeFrame: Single laboratory visit, <1.5 hours
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
References:
citation: Coffino JA, Hormes JM. A Default Option to Enhance Nutrition Within Financial Constraints: A Randomized, Controlled Proof-of-Principle Trial. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2018 Jun;26(6):961-967. doi: 10.1002/oby.22151. Epub 2018 Mar 31.