Infectious DiseasesNCT07406529
Fostering Prosocial Preventive Behaviours Through Awe
A study testing Awe intervention and Neutral imagination in people with Infectious Diseases, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The goal of this randomized control trial is to investigate the impact pf awe on prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases among adults from Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Infectious Diseases
- What is being tested?
- Awe intervention and Neutral imagination
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 456 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 27 Oct 2025to 31 Oct 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults (age ≥18 years) who live in
- Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing) over the past one year
- Able to read and understand written Chinese or English
- Have access to the internet through computers, mobile phones, or tablets
Who cannot join
- Individuals with cognitive or linguistic difficulties that would prevent them from completing an online survey will be excluded.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
Hong Kong
Qiuyan Liao, Dr, 39179289, qyliao11@hku.hk
Xiaoting LUO, MA, 39176302, magluo@connect.hku.hk
About this study
Official title: Fostering Prosocial Behaviours Against Infectious Diseases Through Awe: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this randomized control trial is to investigate the impact pf awe on prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases among adults from Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing). The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does experiencing awe increase adults' intentions to engage in prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases, including vaccination, mask wearing, and social distancing?
- Does the impact vary across three research sites?
Read the detailed description
This study will be conducted as a nested sub-study within a main longitudinal study implemented online. The baseline assessment of the longitudinal study was conducted between October and November 2025. Participants who agreed to be recontacted will be invited to join the randomized controlled trial (RCT) approximately four months after the baseline assessment, in February-March 2026. At that time, participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into either the intervention or control group.
- Conditions
- Infectious Diseases
- Being tested
- Awe intervention, Neutral imagination
- Keywords
- preventive behaviour, infectious diseases, awe
- Medical subject headings
- Communicable Diseases
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Awe interventionBehavioural
The intervention is a three-step mini game named Hidden Picture Puzzle designed to induce the feeling of awe. In the game, participants will first see a picture of nature covered by six opaque blocks. They will be asked to guess the content of the picture. After making their choice, participants will be instructed to click the six blocks to gradually uncover the picture. Once all six blocks are removed, the full image will be revealed. In the final step, participants will be instructed to imagine themselves in the scene and describe their feelings by selecting the word from a provided list. To ensure that participants will have sufficient time to complete the imagination tasks, they will be required to pause for at least 15s before proceeding to indicate their immediate feeling. Each participant will complete four rounds of this mini game, each with a different picture.
Neutral imaginationBehavioural
For the control group, the mini game Hidden Picture Puzzle will also follow a three-step format, identical in structure to the intervention condition. However, the images provided will depict everyday objects (e.g., a bottle) rather than nature scenes. Similarly, when participants are asked to guess the content of the picture. After the participants finish uncovering the pictures, they will be asked to imagine their interaction with these daily objects and describe the features of the objects by selecting a word from a provided list. As in the intervention group, participants in the control group will complete four rounds of the mini game, each with a different image.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Awe intervention group | Experimental | The intervention is a three-step mini game named Hidden Picture Puzzle designed to induce the feeling of awe. In the game, participants will first see a picture of nature covered by six opaque blocks. They will be asked to guess the content of the picture. After making their choice, participants will be instructed to click the six blocks to gradually uncover the picture. Once all six blocks are removed, the full image will be revealed. In the final step, participants will be instructed to imagine themselves in the scene and describe their feelings by selecting the word from a provided list. To ensure that participants will have sufficient time to complete the imagination tasks, they will be required to pause for at least 15s before proceeding to indicate their immediate feeling. Each participant will complete four rounds of this mini game, each with a different picture. Receives: Behavioral: Awe intervention |
| Neutral imagination control group | Placebo comparator | For the control group, the mini game Hidden Picture Puzzle will also follow a three-step format, identical in structure to the intervention condition. However, the images provided will depict everyday objects (e.g., a sofa or a bottle) rather than nature scenes. Similarly, when participants are asked to guess the content of the picture. After the participants finish uncovering the pictures, they will be asked to imagine their interaction with these daily objects and describe the features of the objects by selecting a word from a provided list. As in the intervention group, participants in the control group will complete four rounds of the mini game, each with a different image. Receives: Behavioral: Neutral imagination |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Intentions to participate in future preventive behaviours
Participants will be asked about their intentions to participate in future vaccination, mask wearing, and social distancing during next winter influenza season using a 7-point Likert scale (1=Never, 7=Certain).
Measured: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation
Behavioural choices in the pandemic vignettes
Based on a hypothetical infectious disease pandemic, six vignettes will be shown to the participants, comprising three on vaccination and three on social distancing. Each vignette illustrates a trade-off between personal cost and social benefit in engaging in these prosocial behaviours. Participants will be asked to report how likely will they are to engage in the prosocial preventive behaviours using a 7-point Likert scale (1=Never, 7=Certain).
Measured: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation
Secondary outcomes (1)
Intentions to engage in social activities
Participants will also be asked their intentions to engage in social activities using a 5-point Likert scale (1=Very unwilling, 5=Very willing).
Measured: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Feb 2026
- Study start27 Oct 2025
- Primary completion31 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Infectious DiseasesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 456 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Qiuyan Liao, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07406529
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Socialconhealth2025
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Fostering Prosocial Behaviours Against Infectious Diseases Through Awe: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07406529
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Socialconhealth2025
- Conditions
- Infectious Diseases
- Keywords
- preventive behaviour, infectious diseases, awe
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 456 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 27 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Feb 2026 (actual)
- 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.
The goal of this randomized control trial is to investigate the impact pf awe on prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases among adults from Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing). The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does experiencing awe increase adults' intentions to engage in prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases, including vaccination, mask wearing, and social distancing?
- Does the impact vary across three research sites?
Detailed description
This study will be conducted as a nested sub-study within a main longitudinal study implemented online. The baseline assessment of the longitudinal study was conducted between October and November 2025. Participants who agreed to be recontacted will be invited to join the randomized controlled trial (RCT) approximately four months after the baseline assessment, in February-March 2026. At that time, participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into either the intervention or control group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Awe intervention group | Experimental | Behavioral: Awe interventionThe intervention is a three-step mini game named Hidden Picture Puzzle designed to induce the feeling of awe. In the game, participants will first see a picture of nature covered by six opaque blocks. They will be asked to guess the content of the picture. After making their choice, participants will be instructed to click the six blocks to gradually uncover the picture. Once all six blocks are removed, the full image will be revealed. In the final step, participants will be instructed to imagine themselves in the scene and describe their feelings by selecting the word from a provided list. To ensure that participants will have sufficient time to complete the imagination tasks, they will be required to pause for at least 15s before proceeding to indicate their immediate feeling. Each participant will complete four rounds of this mini game, each with a different picture. |
| Neutral imagination control group | Placebo comparator | Behavioral: Neutral imaginationFor the control group, the mini game Hidden Picture Puzzle will also follow a three-step format, identical in structure to the intervention condition. However, the images provided will depict everyday objects (e.g., a sofa or a bottle) rather than nature scenes. Similarly, when participants are asked to guess the content of the picture. After the participants finish uncovering the pictures, they will be asked to imagine their interaction with these daily objects and describe the features of the objects by selecting a word from a provided list. As in the intervention group, participants in the control group will complete four rounds of the mini game, each with a different image. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Adults (age ≥18 years) who live in
- Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing) over the past one year
- Able to read and understand written Chinese or English
- Have access to the internet through computers, mobile phones, or tablets
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Individuals with cognitive or linguistic difficulties that would prevent them from completing an online survey will be excluded.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Awe interventionThe intervention is a three-step mini game named Hidden Picture Puzzle designed to induce the feeling of awe. In the game, participants will first see a picture of nature covered by six opaque blocks. They will be asked to guess the content of the picture. After making their choice, participants will be instructed to click the six blocks to gradually uncover the picture. Once all six blocks are removed, the full image will be revealed. In the final step, participants will be instructed to imagine themselves in the scene and describe their feelings by selecting the word from a provided list. To ensure that participants will have sufficient time to complete the imagination tasks, they will be required to pause for at least 15s before proceeding to indicate their immediate feeling. Each participant will complete four rounds of this mini game, each with a different picture. | Behavioural | Awe intervention group |
| Neutral imaginationFor the control group, the mini game Hidden Picture Puzzle will also follow a three-step format, identical in structure to the intervention condition. However, the images provided will depict everyday objects (e.g., a bottle) rather than nature scenes. Similarly, when participants are asked to guess the content of the picture. After the participants finish uncovering the pictures, they will be asked to imagine their interaction with these daily objects and describe the features of the objects by selecting a word from a provided list. As in the intervention group, participants in the control group will complete four rounds of the mini game, each with a different image. | Behavioural | Neutral imagination control group |
Primary outcome
Intentions to participate in future preventive behaviours
Time frame: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation
Participants will be asked about their intentions to participate in future vaccination, mask wearing, and social distancing during next winter influenza season using a 7-point Likert scale (1=Never, 7=Certain).
Behavioural choices in the pandemic vignettes
Time frame: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation
Based on a hypothetical infectious disease pandemic, six vignettes will be shown to the participants, comprising three on vaccination and three on social distancing. Each vignette illustrates a trade-off between personal cost and social benefit in engaging in these prosocial behaviours. Participants will be asked to report how likely will they are to engage in the prosocial preventive behaviours using a 7-point Likert scale (1=Never, 7=Certain).
1 secondary outcome
Intentions to engage in social activities
Time frame: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Feb 2026.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Awe intervention and Neutral imagination in people with Infectious Diseases, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
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 4 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Feb 2026. 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 Hong Kong. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Qiuyan Liao (39179289, qyliao11@hku.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Intentions to participate in future preventive behaviours (time frame: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 27 Feb 2026.