Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Some lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and unhealthy eating are learned during adolescence and increase drastically as the child develops into a young adult. By encouraging them to seek information about the disease, young adults may become more aware of cancer risks and what preventative measures they can take. Video games for health have advanced, becoming successful innovative tools used for health promotion and disease prevention. Here, we want to look at the impact of a video game called "Re-Mission" on young adult college students' tendency to perceive the severity of cancer, feel susceptible to cancer, and seek cancer-related information.
Who can participate?
Adults aged 18-40, attending college and happy to play video games.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into one of three groups. Those in group 1 play at game at the high challenge level. Those in group 2 play the same game at the low challenge level. Those in group 3 are given illustrated pictures of the game, which involves no challenge. Participants are asked to report on their information-seeking behaviour at the start of the study and then 10 days later. They are also asked about their perception of cancer and how susceptible they feel to cancer.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration
Where is the study run from?
University at Buffalo, the State University of New York (USA)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2011 to July 2013
Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded (USA)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Georges Khalil
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Georges Khalil
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2870-2365
Contact details
1155 Pressler St. Unit CPB3.3248
Houston
77030
United States of America
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
SBSIRB4555
Study information
Scientific title
A video game promoting cancer risk perception and information seeking behavior among young-adult college students: a phase II randomized controlled trial
Acronym
The Re-Mission Trial II
Study hypothesis
Young adults playing Re-Mission at high challenge are more likely to perceive cancer risk and seek cancer-related information than young adults playing at low or no challenge. Cancer risk perception mediates the relationship between the intervention and information seeking behavior.
Ethics approval
Social and Behavioral Science Institutional Review Board of the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, ref: SBSIRB 4555
Study design
Three-arm randomized controlled (Time × Condition) factorial design
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Schools
Trial type
Prevention
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Condition
Cancer prevention
Intervention
The intervention being studied is a video game called "Re-Mission"TM (HopeLab, Redwood City, CA). The study involved 3 conditions:
1. An intervention group playing Re-Mission at high challenge (n=85)
2. An intervention group playing Re-Mission at low challenge (n=81)
3. A control group of no challenge (n=50), presented with illustrated pictures of Re-Mission
As opposed to low challenge, high challenge was conceptualized as a condition that arises from a set of obstacles that prevent the players from attaining their goals in the game.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Information-seeking behavior. It was measured through self-report using a validated scale at baseline and at 10-day follow up.
Secondary outcome measures
Perceived severity of cancer and perceived susceptibility to cancer. They were measured through self-report using validated scales at baseline and immediate post-test.
Overall trial start date
05/08/2011
Overall trial end date
26/07/2013
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged 18–40 years
2. Attending college
3. Consenting to play video games
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
220
Participant exclusion criteria
Having a medical or mental condition that hindered the ability to play games or complete questionnaires
Recruitment start date
01/09/2011
Recruitment end date
20/12/2012
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United States of America
Trial participating centre
University at Buffalo, the State University of New York
Buffalo
-
United States of America
Funders
Funder type
Other
Funder name
Investigator initiated and funded
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
The plan is to have the evaluation findings published before the end of 2015.
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2016 results in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27470927