None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Social media has become synonymous with misleading information, with evidence from systematic reviews finding health medical misinformation is highly prevalent. Moreover, misleading information on social media may promote inappropriate care which can cause overdiagnosis or overuse (e.g, promotion of whole-body MRI scans to healthy people). To our knowledge there are few, studies designed to work within social media to address overdiagnosis, and the misleading medical information which may be helping to drive it. This study will include three online randomised experiments to test the impact of novel evidence-based social media posts, compared to standard promotional (and misleading) social media posts, on interest in taking a test. Findings will provide evidence on potential content to help reduce the impact of overdiagnosis and overuse by stimulating public and clinical conversations about this problem and its solutions.
Interventions
This study will use three online randomised experiments to test the impact of a novel evidence-based social media campaign post, compared to a standard promotional social media post, on interest in taking a test.
After completing baseline demographics and characteristics, participants (members of the public) will be randomised to one of two conditions (1:1 parallel arm RCT) for one of three types of medical tests.
The intervention will be a short audio-visual evidence-based social media post
This study will use three online randomised experiments to test the impact of a novel evidence-based social media campaign post, compared to a standard promotional social media post, on interest in taking a test. After completing baseline demographics and characteristics, participants (members of the public) will be randomised to one of two conditions (1:1 parallel arm RCT) for one of three types of medical tests. The intervention will be a short audio-visual evidence-based social media post about the full-body MRI scans/anti-Mullein Hormone (AMH) test/testosterone test for healthy people, which are not recommended by professional and health bodies. Evidence-based audio-visual content has been developed for this study and refers to information that is backed by robust scientific peer-reviewed evidence. It will take 5-10 minutes for participants to take part in the study (including 1-2 minutes viewing the intervention and control social media posts). The online experiment will be administered at one point in time with an option for the participant to view the 1 minute intervention and control social media posts twice. Adherence to the intervention will be ensured by forcing a response for outcome measurement items that follow the intervention and by monitoring the overall time taken to complete the online study.
Sponsors
The University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Full-body MRI: Adults aged 35-70, with main target 40-60 years; 50/50 education split of high (Bachelor degree or above) vs low education (below Bachelor degree) AMH : Females 18-45 years, with main target 25-35 years; 50/50 education split of high (Bachelor degree or above) vs low education (below Bachelor degree) Testosterone: Males 18-60 years, with main target 25-45 years; 50/50 education split of high (Bachelor degree or above) vs low education (below Bachelor degree)
Exclusion criteria
Full-body MRI: • Adults less than 35 and older than 70 years • Personal history of cancer • Previous history of having a full-body MRI AMH: • Male • Less than 18 and older than 45 years • Personal or family history of premature menopause • Previous history of having an AMH test Testosterone: • Female • Less than 18 and older than 60 years • Previous diagnosis of hypogonadism • Previous history of having a testosterone test or using testosterone supplementation
Outcome results
None listed