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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03186703

Evaluating the Impact of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal on Cancer Prevention Behaviours in Underserved Populations

The goal of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal is to be a trustworthy source for health information. The Portal team can see (through measuring analytics of website use) that thousands of people are using the Portal and the knowledge-sharing strategies in place (email alerts, Twitter and Facebook), with many more users added each month. Previous studies have measured the quality and trustworthiness of health information available online; others have studied the numbers and populations who use different types of information and how easy it is to use and understand. This study builds on that knowledge to find out: if easy-to-understand evidence-based messages reach members of the public, do these messages change what people know and think to do to stay healthy (in this case, what they know and think to do to lower their risk of cancer)?

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Key information

Conditions

Cancer Behavior Motor Activity Neoplasms Smoking

Age range

40 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario, L8P0A1, Canada

About this study

Half of cancers are preventable through lifestyle modification such as smoking cessation, healthy eating, increasing physical activity and reducing alcohol intake; however, few Canadians engage in behaviours that are in line with cancer prevention guidelines. This may be in part due to lack of access to evidence-based information and the mixed messages on effective cancer prevention strategies that are propagated in the popular media.

The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (the Portal) is a knowledge translation (KT) tool launched in 2014 to increase public access to trustworthy health information. Citizen-friendly content (blog posts, evidence summaries, web resource ratings) provide easy-to-read 'bottom line' messages appropriate for all audiences. Investigators would now like to know if and how KT strategies used to disseminate citizen-targeted information on cancer prevention impact knowledge, behavioural intentions and health behaviours of Canadian adults.

This study will use a sequential mixed-methods design consisting of a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) and a qualitative process study to explore RCT findings in depth. This formative approach will allow for a deeper analysis of the outcomes of interest (knowledge, intentions and behaviours), and the KT process. Following baseline data collection, eligible participants will be randomized to a 12-week intervention or control group.

During the intervention, participants will have access to the Portal, be invited to follow a Twitter and Facebook feed, and receive tailored weekly email alerts including blog posts and evidence summaries on cancer prevention. Control group participants will have access the Portal in a 'self-serve' fashion, but will not receive KT strategies.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • English speaking

Exclusion criteria

  • Previous cancer diagnosis

Treatment and study plan

Tailored knowledge translation

Behavioral

Tailored knowledge translation strategies specific to evidence-based cancer prevention recommendations

Primary outcomes

  1. Website engagement

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Number of clicks

  2. Email engagement

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Number of clicks

  3. Social media engagement

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Number of clicks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Knowledge questionnaire

    Time frame: 12 weeks, 3-months post-intervention

    Participants knowledge of cancer prevention recommendations and guidelines

  2. Beliefs questionnaire

    Time frame: 12 weeks, 3-months post-intervention

    Participants beliefs about the importance of lifestyle in prevention cancer

  3. Intentions questionnaire

    Time frame: 12 weeks, 3-months post-intervention

    Participants intentions to engage in lifestyle behaviours in line with cancer prevention guidelines

  4. Godin leisure time exercise questionnaire

    Time frame: 12 weeks, 3 months post-intervention

    Physical activity

  5. Dietary Screener Questionnaire

    Time frame: 12 weeks, 3 months post-intervention

    Dietary intake

  6. Tobacco Questions for Surveys, World Health Organization

    Time frame: 12 weeks, 3 months post-intervention

    Current smoking behaviour

  7. Seven-day recall alcohol

    Time frame: 12 weeks, 3 months post-intervention

    Alcohol intake

  8. Participant satisfaction

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Collected using qualitative interviews

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

McMaster University

Other

Collaborators

  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluating the Impact of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal on Knowledge, Behavioural Intentions and Health Behaviours Related to Cancer Risk in Underserved Populations.

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2019
First posted
Jun 14, 2017
Registry last updated
Feb 21, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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