Alcohol Drinking
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal of this experiment is to examine responses to alcohol warning messages about 10 different topics among US adult alcohol consumers. The main questions this experiment aims to answer are: Which warning topics make alcohol consumers in the US want to drink less alcohol? Which warning topics remind alcohol consumers in the US of alcohol's harms? Which warning topics help alcohol consumers in the US learn something new? There will be a total of 20 alcohol messages, 2 messages for each of the 10 topics. For each topic, participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 messages so that they view a total of 10 alcohol messages. All 10 messages will be shown in random order. Participants will rate each message on how much it makes them want to drink less alcohol, reminds them that drinking can be harmful, and teaches them something new.
Detailed description
This study aims to determine which topics in alcohol warning labels are most effective at making US adults who consume alcohol want to drink less alcohol, which topics best remind consumers of alcohol's harms, and which topics are most likely to teach consumers something new. The survey research company NORC at the University of Chicago will recruit a sample of 1,000 US adults ages 21+ who consumed alcohol at least one time per week during the past 4 weeks. Participants will complete a within-subjects online randomized experiment in which they view and rate messages shown on alcohol containers. Participants will rate each message on perceived message effectiveness (primary outcome), reminding of alcohol's harms (secondary outcome), and learning something new (secondary outcome). These tasks will be repeated for 10 messages, each with a different topic. There will be 9 warning topics (i.e., topics about alcohol's harms) and 1 control topic (i.e., neutral topic not about alcohol's harms). In this within-subjects experiment, the survey will present the topics in random order and participants will view 1 of 2 messages for each topic.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALLiver Cancer
Participants will view messages about the risk of liver cancer from alcohol consumption.
BEHAVIORALThroat and Mouth Cancer
Participants will view messages about the risk of throat and mouth cancer from alcohol consumption.
BEHAVIORALColorectal Cancer
Participants will view messages about the risk of colorectal cancer from alcohol consumption.
BEHAVIORALMultiple Cancers
Participants will view messages about the risk of multiple cancers from alcohol consumption.
BEHAVIORALLiver Disease
Participants will view messages about the risk of liver disease from alcohol consumption.
BEHAVIORALHypertension
Participants will view messages about the risk of hypertension from alcohol consumption.
BEHAVIORALDementia
Participants will view messages about the risk of dementia from alcohol consumption.
BEHAVIORALDrinking Guidelines
Participants will view messages about guidelines for alcohol consumption.
BEHAVIORALCurrent Warning
Participants will view the current warning that is required on most alcoholic beverage containers sold in the US.
BEHAVIORALControl
Participants will view neutral messages unrelated to the harms of alcohol consumption.
Sponsors
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age 21 and older * Reside in the United States * Able to complete a survey in English * Consumed alcohol at least once per week during the past 4 weeks
Exclusion criteria
* Under the age of 21 * Reside outside of the United States * Unable to complete a survey in English * Consumed alcohol less than once per week during the past 4 weeks
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived Message Effectiveness | Assessed during one-time 15-minute online study survey | The study will assess perceived message effectiveness using 1 item: How much does this message make you want to drink less alcohol? Response options will range from not at all (coded as 1) to a great deal (coded as 5). Higher scores indicate more perceived message effectiveness. Survey weighted means are reported to account for NORC AmeriSpeak's sampling design to enable results to be statistically representative of the US population of drinkers age \>/=21 who drink alcohol. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Assessed during one-time 15-minute online study survey | The study will assess reminding of alcohol's harms using 1 item: How much does this message remind you that drinking alcohol can be harmful? Response options will range from not at all (1) to a great deal (5). Higher scores indicate greater reminding of alcohol's harms. Survey weighted means are reported to account for NORC AmeriSpeak's sampling design to enable results to be statistically representative of the US population of drinkers age \>/=21 who drink alcohol. |
| Learning Something New | Assessed during one-time 15-minute online study survey | The study will assess learning something new with 1 item: Did you learn something new from this message? Response options will be yes (1) and no (0). Proportion of participants who endorsed learning something new (i.e., answered 1). Survey weighted proportions are reported to account for NORC AmeriSpeak's sampling design to enable results to be statistically representative of the US population of drinkers age \>/=21 who drink alcohol. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Alcohol Messages Participants will view and rate 10 messages shown on alcohol containers.
Liver Cancer: Participants will view messages about the risk of liver cancer from alcohol consumption.
Throat and Mouth Cancer: Participants will view messages about the risk of throat and mouth cancer from alcohol consumption.
Colorectal Cancer: Participants will view messages about the risk of colorectal cancer from alcohol consumption.
Multiple Cancers: Participants will view messages about the risk of multiple cancers from alcohol consumption.
Liver Disease: Participants will view messages about the risk of liver disease from alcohol consumption.
Hypertension: Participants will view messages about the risk of hypertension from alcohol consumption.
Dementia: Participants will view messages about the risk of dementia from alcohol consumption.
Drinking Guidelines: Participants will view messages about guidelines for alcohol consumption.
Current Warning: Participants will view the current warning that is required on most alcoholic beverage containers sold in the US.
Control: Participants will view neutral messages unrelated to the harms of alcohol consumption. | 1,036 |
| Total | 1,036 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Alcohol Messages |
|---|---|
| Age, Customized 21-29 years | 115 Participants |
| Age, Customized 30-44 years | 342 Participants |
| Age, Customized 45-59 years | 247 Participants |
| Age, Customized 60 years or older | 332 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized American Indian or Alaska Native | 10 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Another race or ethnicity | 8 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Asian | 39 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Black or African American | 115 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish | 138 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Middle Eastern or North African | 2 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized More than one race or ethnicity | 32 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 1 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Unknown/Did not report race or ethnicity | 10 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized White | 681 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 1036 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Man | 524 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Non-Binary or another gender | 3 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Woman | 509 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 0 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 0 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 0 |
Outcome results
Primary
Perceived Message Effectiveness
The study will assess perceived message effectiveness using 1 item: How much does this message make you want to drink less alcohol? Response options will range from not at all (coded as 1) to a great deal (coded as 5). Higher scores indicate more perceived message effectiveness. Survey weighted means are reported to account for NORC AmeriSpeak's sampling design to enable results to be statistically representative of the US population of drinkers age \>/=21 who drink alcohol.
Time frame: Assessed during one-time 15-minute online study survey
Population: This study compares the message effectiveness of the topic message to the control message. Messages within each topic were not compared to one another.
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Colorectal cancer | 2.52 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Multiple cancers | 2.66 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Dementia | 2.54 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Liver cancer | 2.50 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Throat and mouth cancer | 2.49 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Liver disease | 2.46 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Hypertension | 2.33 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Current warning | 2.15 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Guidelines | 1.93 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Perceived Message Effectiveness | Control | 1.35 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.04 |
Comparison: Multiple cancers vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Dementia vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Colorectal cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Liver cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Throat and mouth cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Liver disease vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Hypertension vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Current warning vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Guidelines vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary
Learning Something New
The study will assess learning something new with 1 item: Did you learn something new from this message? Response options will be yes (1) and no (0). Proportion of participants who endorsed learning something new (i.e., answered 1). Survey weighted proportions are reported to account for NORC AmeriSpeak's sampling design to enable results to be statistically representative of the US population of drinkers age \>/=21 who drink alcohol.
Time frame: Assessed during one-time 15-minute online study survey
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Hypertension | 0.39 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Liver cancer | 0.28 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Throat and mouth cancer | 0.51 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Liver disease | 0.25 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Current warning | 0.18 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Guidelines | 0.28 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Control | 0.14 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Multiple cancers | 0.52 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Dementia | 0.48 proportion of positive responses |
| Alcohol Messages | Learning Something New | Colorectal cancer | 0.54 proportion of positive responses |
Comparison: Multiple cancers vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Dementia vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Colorectal cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Liver cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Throat and mouth cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Liver disease vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Hypertension vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Current warning vs. Controlp-value: 0.02Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Guidelines vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary
Reminding of Alcohol's Harms
The study will assess reminding of alcohol's harms using 1 item: How much does this message remind you that drinking alcohol can be harmful? Response options will range from not at all (1) to a great deal (5). Higher scores indicate greater reminding of alcohol's harms. Survey weighted means are reported to account for NORC AmeriSpeak's sampling design to enable results to be statistically representative of the US population of drinkers age \>/=21 who drink alcohol.
Time frame: Assessed during one-time 15-minute online study survey
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Multiple cancers | 3.15 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Dementia | 2.99 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Colorectal cancer | 2.93 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Liver cancer | 3.00 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Throat and mouth cancer | 3.06 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Liver disease | 2.92 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Hypertension | 2.84 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Current warning | 2.91 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Guidelines | 2.33 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.05 |
| Alcohol Messages | Reminding of Alcohol's Harms | Control | 1.40 score on a scale | Standard Error 0.04 |
Comparison: Multiple cancers vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Dementia vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Colorectal cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Liver cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Throat and mouth cancer vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Liver disease vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Hypertension vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Current warning vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Comparison: Guidelines vs. Controlp-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis