Decision-Making Processes While Online Grocery Shopping

NCT ID: NCT03248583

Last Updated: 2019-05-13

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-01-13
• Study Completion Date: 2016-09-29

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.

Conditions

Nutrition Poor

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Default

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Default option

Intervention Type: OTHER

The "default option" is a behavioral economics construct that refers to the option a consumer selects if no active choice is made (e.g. opt-out 401K plans, which significantly increase enrollment, compared to active sign up).

Participants in the default condition were presented with a pre-filled online shopping cart containing a combination of groceries that meet macro- and micronutrient requirements for their gender and age, and told that they are free to delete, add, and exchange any item they wish to finalize their selections.

Psychoeducation

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Psychoeducation

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants in the psychoeducation condition were instructed to read a brief psychoeducational brochure adapted from materials currently utilized by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance ("Eat Smart New York").

Incentive

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Incentive

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants in the incentive condition were informed that they will receive a gift card to a major retailer of their choice if they select groceries that meet recommended nutritional guidelines for macro- and micronutrient requirements. Participants were given examples of macro- and micronutrients to ensure that the instructions were clear.

Interventions

Default option

The "default option" is a behavioral economics construct that refers to the option a consumer selects if no active choice is made (e.g. opt-out 401K plans, which significantly increase enrollment, compared to active sign up).

Participants in the default condition were presented with a pre-filled online shopping cart containing a combination of groceries that meet macro- and micronutrient requirements for their gender and age, and told that they are free to delete, add, and exchange any item they wish to finalize their selections.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Psychoeducation

Participants in the psychoeducation condition were instructed to read a brief psychoeducational brochure adapted from materials currently utilized by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance ("Eat Smart New York").

Intervention Type: OTHER

Incentive

Participants in the incentive condition were informed that they will receive a gift card to a major retailer of their choice if they select groceries that meet recommended nutritional guidelines for macro- and micronutrient requirements. Participants were given examples of macro- and micronutrients to ensure that the instructions were clear.

Intervention Type: OTHER

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)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University at Albany

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Julia Hormes

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

References

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.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29604181 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

16-E-005-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id