Alcohol and Cancer Message Testing Experiment
Public Health Messaging Survey
Alcohol increases the risk for at least seven cancers, yet recent estimates suggest only between one-third and one-half of US adults are aware of this risk. The current study aims to develop and test alcohol-cancer messages designed for a mass media public health campaign. The messages will be informed by theory-based constructs proximal to health behavior change (e.g., perceived likelihood/severity of harm, response efficacy). We will evaluate messages via an online, cross-sectional message testing randomized experiment. Participants will be US adults aged 21+ recruited from Qualtrics Panels.
Studie Overzicht
Toestand
Toestand
Conditie
Conditie
Interventie / Behandeling
Interventie / Behandeling
Gedetailleerde beschrijving
Rational:
Alcohol increases the risk for at least seven cancers, yet recent estimates suggest only between one-third and one-half of US adults are aware of this risk. Raising public awareness of the alcohol-cancer link can encourage better informed choices about alcohol and promote reduced consumption, yet the most effective strategies for raising such awareness remain to be determined.
One potential strategy is the use of alcohol-cancer risk messages, which could be disseminated through various communication channels (e.g., public service announcements, communication campaigns). However, such messages can differ in numerous ways, including their substantive content and the specific language used to communicate risk, and the optimal design of these messages and their effects on audiences remains to be determined.
Ours and others' prior work has tested different alcohol-cancer warning label messages in experimental studies. These experiments have tested the effects of using causal vs. hedging language, the utility of adding pictograms in warning labels, different ways to frame the alcohol-cancer risk relationship, and the type of cancer to communicate in warning labels. The overarching goal of these studies was to develop effective warning labels that could be added to alcohol beverages.
The current study aims to extend this work by developing and preliminarily evaluating alcohol-cancer messages designed for a mass media public health campaign. These messages will be informed by theory-based constructs proximal to health behavior change (e.g., perceived likelihood/severity of harm, response efficacy). We will evaluate messages via an online, cross-sectional message testing randomized experiment. Participants will be US adults aged 21+ recruited from Qualtrics Panels.
Objective:
The primary objective of this study is to identify how different alcohol-cancer message frames affect message-related perceptions and related health outcomes (e.g., perceived message effectiveness, risk beliefs, drinking intentions). Findings will help inform future alcohol harm reduction health communication efforts.
Guiding research question:
- Do different alcohol-cancer message frames affect people's a) message receptivity, b) alcohol-related attitudes and risk perceptions, and c) drinking intentions?
- Do any factors moderate the effects of exposure to different alcohol-cancer message frames (e.g., drinking status as a moderator)?
Studietype
Studietype
Inschrijving (Geschat)
Inschrijving
Fase
Fase
- Niet toepasbaar
Contacten en locaties
Studiecontact
Studiecontact
- Naam: Jacob A Rohde, PhD, MPH
- Telefoonnummer: (860) 486-2834
- E-mail: jacob.rohde@uconn.edu
Deelname Criteria
Geschiktheidscriteria
Geschiktheidscriteria
Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie
Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers
Geslachten die in aanmerking komen voor studie
Beschrijving
Inclusion Criteria:
- currently reside in the US;
- be aged 21 years or older; and
- speak English.
Exclusion Criteria:
- none beyond failure to meet the inclusion criteria.
Studie plan
Hoe is de studie opgezet?
Ontwerpdetails
- Primair doel: Preventie
- Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
- Interventioneel model: Parallelle opdracht
- Masker: Dubbele
Aantal wapens
Wapens en interventies
Deelnemersgroep / ArmDeelnemersgroep / Arm |
Interventie / BehandelingInterventie / Behandeling |
|---|---|
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Experimenteel: Perceived likelihood frame
Exposure to two alcohol-cancer messages that convey the probability of experiencing a health harm (i.e., cancer) from a particular hazard (i.e., drinking alcohol). The intervention will be administered in an online survey experiment as static images displayed to participants. |
Randomized exposure to one of five alcohol-cancer health campaign message frames, or a non-cancer alcohol harms frame. |
|
Experimenteel: Harm reduction frame
Exposure to two alcohol-cancer messages that encourage reducing how much alcohol people drink. The intervention will be administered in an online survey experiment as static images displayed to participants. |
Randomized exposure to one of five alcohol-cancer health campaign message frames, or a non-cancer alcohol harms frame. |
|
Experimenteel: Perceived severity frame
Exposure to two alcohol-cancer messages that convey how serious getting alcohol-associated cancer will be. The intervention will be administered in an online survey experiment as static images displayed to participants. |
Randomized exposure to one of five alcohol-cancer health campaign message frames, or a non-cancer alcohol harms frame. |
|
Experimenteel: Response efficacy frame
Exposure to two alcohol-cancer messages that emphasize the effectiveness of protective behaviors for reducing alcohol-associated cancer risk. The intervention will be administered in an online survey experiment as static images displayed to participants. |
Randomized exposure to one of five alcohol-cancer health campaign message frames, or a non-cancer alcohol harms frame. |
|
Experimenteel: Harm prevention frame
Exposure to two alcohol-cancer messages that emphasize completely abstaining from drinking alcohol. The intervention will be administered in an online survey experiment as static images displayed to participants. |
Randomized exposure to one of five alcohol-cancer health campaign message frames, or a non-cancer alcohol harms frame. |
|
Actieve vergelijker: Surgeon General's frame
Exposure to two alcohol-cancer messages that do not discuss alcohol-associated cancer risk. Instead, the messages use language from the existing U.S. Surgeon General's warning on alcoholic beverages. The intervention will be administered in an online survey experiment as static images displayed to participants. |
Randomized exposure to one of five alcohol-cancer health campaign message frames, or a non-cancer alcohol harms frame. |
|
Geen tussenkomst: Control
Participants randomized to control will not be exposed to any message stimuli. |
Wat meet het onderzoek?
Primaire uitkomstmaten
Primaire uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
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Perceived message effectiveness - effects perceptions
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
A 3-item scale adapted from prior effects perception PME and substance use literature. After each message exposure, participants will be asked to respond to the following items: 1) This message discourages me from wanting to drink alcohol; 2) This message makes me concerned about the health effects of drinking alcohol; and 3) This message makes drinking alcohol seem unpleasant to me. Items will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). We will assess internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Assuming adequate measure reliability, we will average the items into a single composite PME measure. |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Secundaire uitkomstmaten
Secundaire uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
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Drinking intentions
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Intentions will be assessed with a 3-item scale adapted from prior substance use and health communication research. Participants will answer each of the following questions: How likely is it that you will drink alcohol in the... 1) next week, 2) next month, and 3) next year. Responses will be on 5-point scales ranging from "not at all" (1) to "extremely" (5). We will assess internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Assuming adequate measure reliability, we will average the items into a single composite measure. |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
|
Message reactance
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Message reactance will be assessed with a brief 3-item scale used in prior research. Participants will respond to the following statements: 1) This message is trying to manipulate me, 2) The health effect in this message is overblown, and 3) This message annoys me. Responses will be assessed on 5-point scales ranging from "strongly disagree" (1) to "strongly agree" (5). We will assess internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Assuming adequate measure reliability, we will average the items into a single composite measure. |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
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Non-alcoholic beer message perceptions
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
A single item that has participants respond to the following statement: "This message makes me think drinking non-alcoholic beer is healthier than alcoholic beer." This item will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
|
Perceived message effectiveness - message perceptions
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
A 5-item scale assessing perceptions of each message, adapted from prior work. After each message exposure, participants will respond to the following items: 1) "This message grabs my attention"; 2) "This message is believable"; 3) "This message is credible"; 4) "This message is trustworthy"; and 5) "I learned something new from this message." Items will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). We will assess internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Assuming adequate measure reliability, we will average the items into a single composite measure. |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
|
Attitudes toward alcohol
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
A 3-item measure assessing attitudes toward drinking alcohol. Participants will rate drinking alcohol on three 5-point bipolar scales: 1) harmful/safe; 2) bad/good; and 3) unhealthy/healthy. We will assess internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Assuming adequate reliability, we will average the items into a single composite attitude measure. |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
|
Intentions to reduce alcohol use
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Assessed only among participants who currently drink alcohol. Participants will be asked, "How likely are you to reduce how much alcohol you drink?" Responses will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from not at all (1) to very much (5). |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
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Alcohol-cancer causal beliefs
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Causal beliefs will be assessed with a single item: "How likely do you think it is that alcohol causes cancer?" Responses will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from not at all (1) to very much (5). |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
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Intentions to quit drinking alcohol
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Participants who currently drink alcohol will be asked, "How likely are you to quit drinking alcohol?" Responses will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from not at all (1) to very much (5). |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
|
Alcohol-cancer risk beliefs
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
We will assess risk beliefs using a 3-item scale assessing affective, experiential, and deliberative perceptions of cancer risk among participants who currently drink alcohol. The measure stem will state, "If you continue to drink alcohol at your current level…" Participants will then answer the following items: 1) "How worried are you about eventually getting cancer?"; 2) "To what extent could you see yourself eventually getting cancer?"; and 3) "How likely do you think it is that you will eventually get cancer?" Items will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from not at all (1) to very much (5). We will assess these items separately, as they tap into different tri-risk constructs; however, for exploratory purposes we will also assess internal consistency of the three items using Cronbach's alpha. Assuming adequate reliability, we will average the items into a single composite measure. |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
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Support for message on alcohol containers
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Assessed with a single item: "I believe a message like this should be added to alcohol beverage containers." Responses will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
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Perceived effectiveness of message on alcohol containers
Tijdsspanne: Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Assessed with a single item: "Seeing a message like this on an alcoholic beverage would make me think twice about drinking alcohol." Responses will be assessed on a 5-point scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). |
Day 1; post intervention exposure
|
Medewerkers en onderzoekers
Sponsor
Sponsor
Studie record data
Bestudeer belangrijke data
Studie start (Geschat)
Studie start
Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)
Primaire voltooiing
Studie voltooiing (Geschat)
Studie voltooiing
Studieregistratiedata
Eerst ingediend
Eerst ingediend
Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria
Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria
Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)
Eerst geplaatst
Updates van studierecords
Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)
Laatste update geplaatst
Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria
Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria
Laatst geverifieerd
Laatst geverifieerd
Meer informatie
Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie
Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden
Andere studie-ID-nummers
Andere studie-ID-nummers
- B2026-0294
- Faculty Startup Funds (Andere identificatie: UConn College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources)
Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)
Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?
Beschrijving IPD-plan
We will share anonymized IPD with researchers upon reasonable request to the project Principal Investigator.
IPD-tijdsbestek voor delen
IPD will be available on an ad hoc basis upon reasonable request for at least three years after the experiment is completed.
IPD-toegangscriteria voor delen
Other researchers who provide a reasonable request about how they will use the data (e.g., validation, secondary analyses, etc).
Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten
Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel
Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct
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