Eating BehaviourNCT02603263
The Effect of a Descriptive Norm Promoting Vegetable Selection in a Workplace Restaurant Setting: an Observational Study
An observational study of Eating Behaviour, run by University of Birmingham at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
Encouraging individuals to eat fruit and vegetables is difficult. However, recent evidence suggests that using social-based information might help. For instance, it has been shown that if people think that others are eating lots of fruit and vegetables, that they will consume more food to match the 'norm'.The purpose… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Eating Behaviour
- What is being tested?
- Social Norms Poster
- How many people
- 9,445 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- Feb 2015to Aug 2015
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: Customers at workplace restaurants.
Who may be able to join
- Purchase of a meal at one of the restaurants
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
University of Birmingham
Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2TT
About this study
Official title: The Effect of a Descriptive Norm Promoting Vegetable Selection in a Workplace
Encouraging individuals to eat fruit and vegetables is difficult. However, recent evidence suggests that using social-based information might help. For instance, it has been shown that if people think that others are eating lots of fruit and vegetables, that they will consume more food to match the 'norm'.The purpose of this study was to determine whether social norm messages could be used to enhance vegetable purchases in workplace restaurants, in an observational study.
Read the detailed description
In this study the investigators hypothesised that placing posters containing social norm messages promoting vegetable consumption in three workplace restaurants, would increase the purchase of meals with vegetables, and that this effect would be sustained over time. The investigators recruited three restaurants to this study. For two weeks (Pre-intervention phase) the investigators used till receipts to monitor the number of meals sold with or without vegetables at baseline. For the following two weeks (Intervention phase) the investigators placed social norms posters around the three restaurants, while continuing to collect till receipts. After this, the posters were removed, and receipts were monitored for a final two weeks (Post-intervention).
- Conditions
- Eating Behaviour
- Being tested
- Social Norms Poster
- Keywords
- social norms, healthy eating, vegetables, field study
- Medical subject headings
- Feeding Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Social Norms PosterOther
A poster containing a social norms message: "Most people here choose to eat vegetables with their lunch"
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace Restaurant Customers | 1 Group (Workplace Restaurant Customers) across 3 sites (data to be combined at end of study)
Study consists of three phases:
1. Pre Intervention
2. Intervention
3. Post Intervention
All phases lasted two weeks and included monitoring till receipts for meals (these were automatically generated and held on the tills electronically). The intervention phase consisted of posters being displayed in the restaurants, featuring a Social Norms Poster. Receives: Other: Social Norms Poster |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percentage of meals containing vegetables
Measured: 7 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Nov 2015 (estimated)
- Study startFeb 2015
- Primary completionAug 2015
- Study completionAug 2015
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Eating BehaviourStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrolment
- 9,445 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Birmingham
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Economic and Social Research Council, United Kingdom, C H & Co Ltd.
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Jason M Thomas, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Birmingham
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02603263
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UBirmingham-SNS7
- Status last verified
- Nov 2015
- First submitted
- 22 Oct 2015
- Last updated
- 11 Nov 2015
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Thomas JM, Ursell A, Robinson EL, Aveyard P, Jebb SA, Herman CP, Higgs S. Using a descriptive social norm to increase vegetable selection in workplace restaurant settings. Health Psychol. 2017 Nov;36(11):1026-1033. doi: 10.1037/hea0000478. Epub 2017 May 25.
PubMed 28541071
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Nov 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of a Descriptive Norm Promoting Vegetable Selection in a Workplace
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02603263
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UBirmingham-SNS7
- Conditions
- Eating Behaviour
- Keywords
- social norms, healthy eating, vegetables, field study
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 9,445 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of BirminghamUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Economic and Social Research Council, United Kingdom, C H & Co Ltd.
- Study start
- Feb 2015
- Primary completion
- Aug 2015 (actual)
- Study completion
- Aug 2015 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Nov 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Encouraging individuals to eat fruit and vegetables is difficult. However, recent evidence suggests that using social-based information might help. For instance, it has been shown that if people think that others are eating lots of fruit and vegetables, that they will consume more food to match the 'norm'.The purpose of this study was to determine whether social norm messages could be used to enhance vegetable purchases in workplace restaurants, in an observational study.
Detailed description
In this study the investigators hypothesised that placing posters containing social norm messages promoting vegetable consumption in three workplace restaurants, would increase the purchase of meals with vegetables, and that this effect would be sustained over time. The investigators recruited three restaurants to this study. For two weeks (Pre-intervention phase) the investigators used till receipts to monitor the number of meals sold with or without vegetables at baseline. For the following two weeks (Intervention phase) the investigators placed social norms posters around the three restaurants, while continuing to collect till receipts. After this, the posters were removed, and receipts were monitored for a final two weeks (Post-intervention).
Study design
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace Restaurant Customers | – | Other: Social Norms Poster1 Group (Workplace Restaurant Customers) across 3 sites (data to be combined at end of study) Study consists of three phases: 1. Pre Intervention 2. Intervention 3. Post Intervention All phases lasted two weeks and included monitoring till receipts for meals (these were automatically generated and held on the tills electronically). The intervention phase consisted of posters being displayed in the restaurants, featuring a Social Norms Poster. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Customers at workplace restaurants.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Purchase of a meal at one of the restaurants
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Social Norms PosterA poster containing a social norms message: "Most people here choose to eat vegetables with their lunch" | Other | Workplace Restaurant Customers |
Primary outcome
Percentage of meals containing vegetables
Time frame: 7 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Nov 2015.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28541071Thomas JM, Ursell A, Robinson EL, Aveyard P, Jebb SA, Herman CP, Higgs S. Using a descriptive social norm to increase vegetable selection in workplace restaurant settings. Health Psychol. 2017 Nov;36(11):1026-1033. doi: 10.1037/hea0000478. Epub 2017 May 25.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jason M Thomas, PhD principal investigator
University of Birmingham
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Eating Behaviour, run by University of Birmingham at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Nov 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Percentage of meals containing vegetables (time frame: 7 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02603263, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Nov 2015.