Video Interventions for Health Anxiety

Overseen By Heather Orom Associate Professor, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: State University of New York at Buffalo

Disqualifiers: Colorectal cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

1500 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Health information avoidance is an overlooked threat to the reach and effectiveness of health communication. To fully realize the benefits of our sizeable investments in health messaging, it is necessary to identify strategies for reducing health information avoidance. The researchers will test a video-based strategy for promoting colorectal cancer screening designed to reduce defensive colorectal cancer information avoidance and increase message reach by increasing engagement among those who would otherwise avoid the message. The researchers will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effects of the intervention video to an attentional control video on colorectal cancer screening intentions and uptake.

Research Team

Heather Orom Associate Professor, PhD

Principal Investigator

University at Buffalo

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals aged 45-75 who have never been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and are not following screening guidelines. It's specifically aimed at those who tend to avoid information about colorectal cancer, as measured by a pre-screening survey.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 45 and 75 years old.

Non-adherent to colorectal cancer screening guidelines

Half will have a score at or greater than the mid-point on the colorectal cancer information avoidance scale (≥2.5) on the pre-screening survey such that half of the sample are people who tend to avoid colorectal cancer information

Exclusion Criteria

I am younger than 45 or older than 75.

I have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

I follow the guidelines for colorectal cancer screening.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants view a brief video promoting colorectal cancer screening with self-efficacy enhancement, humor, and calm affect induction

1 day

1 visit (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for screening intentions and uptake, and for seeking personal risk information

9 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Video to promote colonoscopy
• Video to promote screening for colorectal cancer with home tests

Trial Overview The study tests two videos: one encourages colonoscopy, the other promotes home screening for colorectal cancer. The goal is to see if these can reduce avoidance of health information and increase engagement in screenings through a randomized controlled trial.

Participant Groups

Group I: Video to promote screening for colorectal cancer with home tests Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will view a brief video promoting colorectal cancer home testing with self-efficacy enhancement, humor and calm affect induction

Group II: Video to promote colonoscopy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will view a brief video promoting colonoscopy with self-efficacy enhancement, humor and calm affect induction

Group III: Attentional control video Active Control 1 Intervention

The attentional control video will be about food safety and will be the same length and include the same actors and music.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

State University of New York at Buffalo

Lead Sponsor

Trials

279

Recruited

52,600+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+