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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04570917

Online Education Intervention to Reduce Ageism Among Undergraduate Students

Ageism is common is healthcare workers, and that results in negative outcomes for elderly patients. This randomized controlled trial is to determine if age bias could be changed by an online learning activity in undergraduate students in an entry-level nutrition class.

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Key information

Conditions

Ageism Behavior Prejudice Social Behavior Social Discrimination

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Mississippi

Oxford, Mississippi, 38677, United States

About this study

This randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms is to determine the effect of an online educational intervention developed to reduce ageism in undergraduate students enrolled in an entry-level Nutrition class. Eligible study participants will be randomized into either the "Intervention group" (INT) or the "Control group" (CON). The two groups will have different learning material delivered online via Blackboard (Learning Management System/LMS). These include a collection of short videos developed by the researchers, as well as relevant videos available on the web. Participants in the INT group will learn about aging and ageism, while the CON group will learn about diversity and cultural competence. Sociodemographic data, percieved risk of COVID-19, preventative behaviors related ot COVID-19 will be collected using a questionnaire at baseline. Ageism will be assessed using standard questionnaires. Data collection will be done at three time points: Pre-intervention, immediate post intervention and 2-weeks post-intervention. Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes will be assessed.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years or older
  • Enrolled in 3 sections of the introductory level nutrition course taught by three different instructors.

Treatment and study plan

Online educational intervention to reduce ageism

Behavioral

Participants in this group will go over multiple short videos covering the following content:1). Myths about aging, 2). Ageism and its negative effects, 3). Distorted views about aging among young adults, 4). Ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 5). importance of reducing ageism among healthcare professionals. These will be multiple videos posted on the LMS (Blackboard). At the end of the lesson, they will be asked to briefly write what they learned on Blackboard as an assignment.

Online educational intervention to enhance cultural competance

Behavioral

Participants in the control group will go over multiple short videos covering the following content: 1). Myths about cultural competence, 2) Cultural competence for health care professionals including dietitians, 3). Connecting culture and food, and 4). Importance of cultural competence in sports dietitians. At the end of the lesson, they will be asked to briefly write what they learned. These will be multiple videos posted on the LMS (Blackboard). At the end of the lesson, they will be asked to briefly write what they learned on Blackboard as an assignment.

Primary outcomes

  1. Difference between groups for pre-and post intervention changes in the score of Fraboni's Scale for Ageism

    Time frame: From Pre- to immediate post- intervention

    Higher Fraboni's score indicates more bias.

  2. Difference between groups for pre- and 2-weeks post intervention changes in the score of Fraboni's Scale for Ageism

    Time frame: From Pre- to 2-weeks post-intervention

    Higher Fraboni's score indicates more bias.

  3. Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes in benevolent subscores of the Ambivalent ageism scale

    Time frame: From Pre- to immediate post- intervention

    Higher benevolent score indicates more benevolent ageism

  4. Difference between groups for pre and 2-weeks post intervention changes in benevolent subscores of the Ambivalent ageism scale Higher score indicates more benevolent bias.

    Time frame: From Pre- to 2-weeks post-intervention

    Higher benevolent score indicates more benevolent ageism

  5. Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes in hostile subscores of the Ambivalent ageism scale

    Time frame: From Pre- to immediate post- intervention

    Higher hostile score indicates more hostile ageism

  6. Difference between groups for pre and 2-week post intervention changes in hostile subscores of the Ambivalent ageism scale

    Time frame: From Pre- to 2-weeks post-intervention

    Higher hostile score indicates more hostile ageism

Secondary outcomes

  1. Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes in age-related implicit bias

    Time frame: From Pre- to immediate post- intervention

  2. Difference between groups for pre and 2-week post intervention changes in age-related implicit bias

    Time frame: From Pre- to 2-weeks post-intervention

  3. Difference between groups for pre-post intervention changes in the value (years) used to define "old age"

    Time frame: From Pre- to immediate post- intervention

  4. Difference between groups for pre and 2-weeks post intervention changes in the value (years) used to define "old age"

    Time frame: From Pre- to 2-weeks post-intervention

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Mississippi, Oxford

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of an Online Educational Intervention to Reduce Ageism in Undergraduate Students in an Entry-level Nutrition Class

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Sep 30, 2020
Registry last updated
May 6, 2021

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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