Enhancing Child Dietary Self-monitoring

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Nutrition, Healthy

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial was to test the preliminary efficacy of a digital dietary self-monitoring (dDSM) log that uses positive reinforcement strategies (caregiver praise and gamification) to improve child engagement in DSM. The main aims were to: * Conduct a proof-of-concept trial that examines the effects of positive reinforcement on child DSM behaviors. * Explore differences in children's intrinsic motivation. Participating children will be instructed to self-monitor their daily intake of targeted food groups (fruits, vegetables, sweet and salty snack foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages) for 4 weeks using a personal web-based DSM log. Each child-caregiver dyad will be randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions: BASIC, PRAISE, GAME, or PRAISE+GAME. For PRAISE and PRAISE+GAME conditions, caregivers will be instructed to provide daily process praise to their child related to DSM behaviors. For GAME and PRAISE+GAME conditions, logs will integrate three game mechanics: points, levels, and a virtual pet. Points will be accumulated for engaging in DSM behaviors, and accrual of points will evolve a virtual pet over time.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06193967

Run by

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

People needed

19

Starts

2024-04-04

Expected to finish

2024-12-04

Last updated by the study team

2025-12-03

Who can join

Age: 8 and older, up to 100. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Families with children ages 8-12 years with body mass index (BMI)-for-age ≥ 5th percentile who report eating foods/beverages (any serving size) from ≥2 targeted food groups (fruits, vegetables, sweet and salty snack foods, and SSBs) on ≥3 days/week each and who have an adult caregiver ≥18 years of age willing to participate
• Family has reliable access to the internet via phone, computer, or another device that the child is able and permitted to operate

You may not qualify if…

• Child has major psychiatric diseases or organic brain syndromes
• Family does not live in the greater Knoxville area
• Family does not speak English

Where it is running

• University of Tennessee — Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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