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The Influence of Simple, Low-Cost Chemistry Intervention Videos: A Randomized Trial of Children's Preferences for Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

The Influence of Simple, Low-Cost Chemistry Intervention Videos: A Randomized Trial of Children's Preferences for Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04971317
Enrollment
326
Registered
2021-07-21
Start date
2018-09-05
Completion date
2018-12-30
Last updated
2021-07-21

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

Conditions

Dental Caries, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes

Brief summary

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental caries. The current study attempts to explore whether an educational, science-based intervention is able to produce a measurable negative change in preferences for sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as initiate plans to reduce future SSB consumption in 12-year old children. In the first condition (SSB Intervention), participants will watch a video showing the decay of an egg in various SSBs (Coca-Cola, Sprite, Gatorade, and apple juice), followed by the evaporation of these beverages over a heat source, revealing their sugar content. In the second condition (Water Intervention), participants will watch a video showing an egg maintaining its shell in water, followed by the evaporation of water. In the third condition (Control), participants will watch a video of an egg maintaining its shell in rubbing alcohol, followed by the evaporation of rubbing alcohol. Before and after watching their assigned video, participants will complete survey questions to assess self-reported: SSB consumption intentions, attitudes toward SSBs, and health perceptions of SSBs. Therefore, the aims of this study are to (1) quantify changes in SSB consumption intentions, attitudes towards SSBs, and health perceptions of SSBs from pre-video to post-video, (2) establish the effectiveness of the SSB Intervention and Water Intervention over the control, (3) establish the effectiveness of the SSB Intervention over the Water Intervention, (4) determine the efficacy of incorporating scientific evidence in a public health intervention, and (5) make recommendations for the future application of the method employed in this intervention to future public health campaigns.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALSugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Video

Participants will watch a video showing the decay of an egg in various SSBs (Coca-Cola, Sprite, Gatorade, and apple juice), followed by the evaporation of these beverages over a heat source, revealing their sugar content.

BEHAVIORALWater Video

Participants will watch a video showing an egg maintaining its shell in water, followed by the evaporation of water.

BEHAVIORALControl

Participants will watch a video of an egg maintaining its shell in rubbing alcohol, followed by the evaporation of rubbing alcohol.

Sponsors

NYU Langone Health
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* We will recruit a nationally representative sample of participants through the subdivision of Qualtrics, Qualtrics Panel. Participants must be 12 years old and English speaking.

Exclusion criteria

* Any participant that is not 12 years old or does not speak English will be excluded from participation.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Frequency of SSB Consumption30 daysMeasurement of how often participants consume various SSBs using the following questions: 1) During the past 30 days, how often did you drink regular soda or pop that contains sugar (such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, Fanta, etc.)? Do not include diet soda or diet pop. 2) During the past 30 days, how often did you drink sports drinks (such as Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water, etc.)? Do not include diet drinks or artificially sweetened drinks. 3) During the past 30 days, how often did you drink sugar-sweetened fruit drinks (such as Kool-aid, lemonade, cranberry juice, etc.)? Do not include 100% fruit juice. \*Questions have been adapted from the BRFSS Sugar Sweetened Beverage Optional Module
Attitudes towards SSBs30 daysAttitudes to SSBs will be assessed using the following questions measured on a 7-point likert scale: 1) I feel positive toward soda or pop/I feel negative toward soda or pop (such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, Fanta, etc.). Do not include diet soda or diet pop. 2) I feel positive toward sports drinks/I feel negative toward sports drinks (such as Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water, etc.)? Do not include diet drinks or artificially sweetened drinks. 3) I feel positive toward sugar-sweetened fruit drinks/I feel negative toward sugar-sweetened fruit drinks (such as Kool-aid, lemonade, cranberry juice, etc.). Do not include 100% fruit juice.
Health Perceptions of SSBs30 daysResponse to SSBs will be assessed using the following questions measured on a 7-point likert scale: 1) I think that soda or pop (such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, Fanta, etc.) is healthy/unhealthy. Do not include diet soda or diet pop. 2) I think that sports drinks (such as Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water, etc.) are healthy/unhealthy. Do not include diet drinks or artificially sweetened drinks. 3) I think that fruit drinks (such as Kool-aid, lemonade, cranberry juice, etc.) are healthy/unhealthy. Do not include 100% fruit juice.
Plans for Future SSB Consumption Post-Intervention or Post-Control30 daysMeasurement of how often participants plan to consume various SSBs using the following questions: 1) During the next 30 days, how often do you plan on drinking regular soda or pop that contains sugar (such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, Fanta, etc.)? Do not include diet soda or diet pop. 2) During the next 30 days, how often do you plan on drinking sports drinks (such as Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water, etc.)? Do not include diet drinks or artificially sweetened drinks. 3) During the next 30 days, how often do you plan on drinking sugar-sweetened fruit drinks (such as Kool-aid, lemonade, cranberry juice, etc.)? Do not include 100% fruit juice.
Attitudes towards SSBs Post-Intervention or Post-Control30 daysResponse to SSBs will be assessed using the following questions measured on a 7-point likert scale: 1) I feel positive toward soda or pop/I feel negative toward soda or pop (such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, Fanta, etc.). Do not include diet soda or diet pop. 2) I feel positive toward sports drinks/I feel negative toward sports drinks (such as Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water, etc.)? Do not include diet drinks or artificially sweetened drinks. 3) I feel positive toward sugar-sweetened fruit drinks/I feel negative toward sugar-sweetened fruit drinks (such as Kool-aid, lemonade, cranberry juice, etc.). Do not include 100% fruit juice.
Health Perceptions of SSBs Post-Intervention or Post-Control30 daysResponse to SSBs will be assessed using the following questions measured on a 7-point likert scale: 1) I think that soda or pop (such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, Fanta, etc.) is healthy/unhealthy. Do not include diet soda or diet pop. 2) I think that sports drinks (such as Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water, etc.) are healthy/unhealthy. Do not include diet drinks or artificially sweetened drinks. 3) I think that fruit drinks (such as Kool-aid, lemonade, cranberry juice, etc.) are healthy/unhealthy. Do not include 100% fruit juice.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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