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Online Education Intervention to Reduce Ageism Among Undergraduate Students

Effectiveness of an Online Educational Intervention to Reduce Ageism in Undergraduate Students in an Entry-level Nutrition Class

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04570917
Enrollment
64
Registered
2020-09-30
Start date
2020-09-28
Completion date
2020-11-11
Last updated
2021-05-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Ageism

Keywords

Ageism, Older adults, Educational intervention

Brief summary

Ageism is common is healthcare workers, and that results in negative outcomes for elderly patients. This randomized controlled trial is to determine if age bias could be changed by an online learning activity in undergraduate students in an entry-level nutrition class.

Detailed description

This randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms is to determine the effect of an online educational intervention developed to reduce ageism in undergraduate students enrolled in an entry-level Nutrition class. Eligible study participants will be randomized into either the Intervention group (INT) or the Control group (CON). The two groups will have different learning material delivered online via Blackboard (Learning Management System/LMS). These include a collection of short videos developed by the researchers, as well as relevant videos available on the web. Participants in the INT group will learn about aging and ageism, while the CON group will learn about diversity and cultural competence. Sociodemographic data, percieved risk of COVID-19, preventative behaviors related ot COVID-19 will be collected using a questionnaire at baseline. Ageism will be assessed using standard questionnaires. Data collection will be done at three time points: Pre-intervention, immediate post intervention and 2-weeks post-intervention. Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes will be assessed.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALOnline educational intervention to reduce ageism

Participants in this group will go over multiple short videos covering the following content:1). Myths about aging, 2). Ageism and its negative effects, 3). Distorted views about aging among young adults, 4). Ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 5). importance of reducing ageism among healthcare professionals. These will be multiple videos posted on the LMS (Blackboard). At the end of the lesson, they will be asked to briefly write what they learned on Blackboard as an assignment.

BEHAVIORALOnline educational intervention to enhance cultural competance

Participants in the control group will go over multiple short videos covering the following content: 1). Myths about cultural competence, 2) Cultural competence for health care professionals including dietitians, 3). Connecting culture and food, and 4). Importance of cultural competence in sports dietitians. At the end of the lesson, they will be asked to briefly write what they learned. These will be multiple videos posted on the LMS (Blackboard). At the end of the lesson, they will be asked to briefly write what they learned on Blackboard as an assignment.

Sponsors

University of Mississippi, Oxford
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* 18 years or older * Enrolled in 3 sections of the introductory level nutrition course taught by three different instructors.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Difference between groups for pre and 2-week post intervention changes in hostile subscores of the Ambivalent ageism scaleFrom Pre- to 2-weeks post-interventionHigher hostile score indicates more hostile ageism
Difference between groups for pre- and 2-weeks post intervention changes in the score of Fraboni's Scale for AgeismFrom Pre- to 2-weeks post-interventionHigher Fraboni's score indicates more bias.
Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes in benevolent subscores of the Ambivalent ageism scaleFrom Pre- to immediate post- interventionHigher benevolent score indicates more benevolent ageism
Difference between groups for pre and 2-weeks post intervention changes in benevolent subscores of the Ambivalent ageism scale Higher score indicates more benevolent bias.From Pre- to 2-weeks post-interventionHigher benevolent score indicates more benevolent ageism
Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes in hostile subscores of the Ambivalent ageism scaleFrom Pre- to immediate post- interventionHigher hostile score indicates more hostile ageism
Difference between groups for pre-and post intervention changes in the score of Fraboni's Scale for AgeismFrom Pre- to immediate post- interventionHigher Fraboni's score indicates more bias.

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Difference between groups for pre and 2-week post intervention changes in age-related implicit biasFrom Pre- to 2-weeks post-intervention
Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes in the value (years) used to define old ageFrom Pre- to immediate post- intervention
Difference between groups for pre and 2-weeks post intervention changes in the value (years) used to define old ageFrom Pre- to 2-weeks post-intervention
Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes in age-related implicit biasFrom Pre- to immediate post- intervention

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026