Testing Different Messaging Approaches to Increase Activation of a HealthyFood Benefit in Adults With Diabetes

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Diabetes; Incentives; Messaging; Diet
• Interventions: Other: Email message regarding the HealthyFood benefit

• Registration Number: NCT02462057
• Lead Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

Brief Summary

The Vitality HealthyFood benefit is a three-tiered incentive program designed to encourage healthier food choices amongst members of Discovery Health's Vitality program. Once enrolled in the benefit, participating members can receive 10%, 15%, or 25% cash-back on the healthy foods they purchase at selected grocers. And, while overall enrollment in the program is high, there is particular interest in increasing enrollment in the benefit amongst Vitality members with diabetes. One presumed barrier to enrollment in the benefit amongst members with diabetes is a misperception of the particular relevance of the benefit and healthier food choices for their personal health. Improved messaging regarding the HealthyFood benefit and its particular salience for individuals with diabetes may be an effective means of increasing activation of the benefit in this population. The proposed study will be a collaboration between Discovery Health/Vitality and researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In the proposed RCT, Vitality members with diabetes will be randomised to different types of messages regarding the HealthyFood benefit. The investigators will then compare the effectiveness of these different messaging strategies at increasing activation of the HealthyFood benefit amongst Vitality members with diabetes.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2015-05-30
• Study Start: 2015-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-06-02
• Study First Posted: 2015-06-03
• Primary Completion: 2015-07
• Study Completion: 2015-07
• Results First Submitted: 2017-08-28
• Status Verified: 2018-04
• Results First Submitted QC: 2018-04-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-04-13
• Results First Posted: 2018-11-09
• Last Update Posted: 2018-11-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 5467

Inclusion Criteria

1. Adults over age 18
2. Vitality health members who have not yet enrolled in the Vitality HealthyFood benefit
3. Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (based on registration for chronic benefits for type 2 diabetes)
4. Have registered on to Discovery Health/Vitality website in the past (marker of Internet access and availability of email address)

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Exclusion Criteria

• Anyone who does not meet above criteria

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Diabetes-specific	Email message regarding the HealthyFood benefit	This group will receive a message which simply cites the two specific benefits of the eating more healthy foods for individuals with diabetes. This message contains a link to start the enrolment process.
Experience of another member	Email message regarding the HealthyFood benefit	This group will receive a message that includes a quote from the perspective of a Vitality member with diabetes who uses the HealthyFood benefit. Given the need to standardise message content across study arms, the quote was written by the study team and not an actual member. The quote emphasizes the positive impact the benefit has had for the member-both the financial benefit, as well as the two specific diabetes health benefits.
Input from a diabetes expert	Email message regarding the HealthyFood benefit	This group will receive a message that includes a quote from a South African physician who specializes in diabetes. The quote emphasises the financial benefit and the two specific diabetes health benefits of the HealthyFood program included in the other messages. It concludes with the doctor's recommendation of the benefit for all individuals with diabetes.
Enhanced active choice	Email message regarding the HealthyFood benefit	This group will receive a message whose first portion is identical to those in the diabetes-specific message group. The second portion of the message differs in that instead of just asking recipients to click on the provided link if interested, the message asks people to choose and click on one of following possible responses: 1. Yes! I want to active the HealthyFood benefit and get up to 25% cash back on the healthy food I buy at Pick n Pay or Woolworths 2. No, I'd prefer not to activate and continue paying full price for my healthy food purchases

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Enrollment in 10% Level of Benefit	One month from initial emailed messages	Rates of enrolment in 10% cash-back level (the most basic level, requires online activation only) of the HealthyFood Benefit amongst members with diabetes