Mindfulness plus digital health learning to support student health decisions

Effects of Mindfulness Practice and E-health Information Push on E-health Literacy, Media Literacy, Food Literacy, and Mindfulness Skills Among University Students in Macau

This project tests whether brief mindfulness exercises combined with digital e-health lessons help university students aged 18–25 make clearer health decisions and improve e-health, food, and media literacy.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 268 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 25 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Macau (other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Macao and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07157566 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized 4-arm trial will assign 268 university students to one of four groups: mindfulness, e-health literacy, combined mindfulness + e-health, or a control group. Interventions run for 8 weeks and are delivered during Physical Education classes (short mindful eating/movement exercises) and via digital push notifications with health content. Baseline and follow-up assessments use questionnaires on e-health, media, and food literacy, critical thinking and decision-making confidence, plus computerized tests with E-Prime. The trial measures short-term changes in multiple literacy domains, decision-making, and well-being.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are university students aged 18–25 enrolled in a Physical Education class at the University of Macau who are generally healthy, proficient in Chinese, and willing to take part in an 8-week mindfulness and/or e-health program.

Not a fit: People who are not university students, older than 25, unable to participate in physical education activities, or who do not read Chinese are unlikely to benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help students make better-informed healthy choices, boost decision-making confidence, and improve several forms of health literacy.

How similar studies have performed: Standalone mindfulness and digital health-education programs have shown modest benefits for attention, behavior change, and e-health literacy, but combining them in this way for students is relatively novel and less tested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Mindfulness Group

1. Currently enrolled in a Physical Education (PE) class.
2. Aged between 18 and 25 years.
3. Willing to participate in the 8-week intervention and provide informed consent.
4. Generally healthy and able to engage in physical activity.
5. Proficient in Chinese.

E-health Group

1. Currently enrolled in a Physical Education (PE) class.
2. Aged between 18 and 25 years.
3. Willing to participate in the 8-week intervention and provide informed consent.
4. Generally healthy and able to engage in physical activity.
5. Proficient in Chinese.

Mindfulness + E-health Group

1. Currently enrolled in a Physical Education (PE) class.
2. Aged between 18 and 25 years.
3. Willing to participate in the 8-week intervention and provide informed consent.
4. Generally healthy and able to engage in physical activity.
5. Proficient in Chinese.

Control Group

1. Currently enrolled in a Physical Education (PE) class.
2. Aged between 18 and 25 years.
3. Willing to participate in the 8-week intervention and provide informed consent.
4. Generally healthy and able to engage in physical activity.
5. Proficient in Chinese.

Exclusion Criteria:

Mindfulness Group

1. Currently studying in medical, nutrition, or health-related fields.
2. Pregnant or lactating.
3. Severe mental health conditions or cognitive impairments affecting participation.
4. Currently participating in other mindfulness or digital health programs.
5. Involved in competitive sports (e.g., varsity athletes).
6. Recent major life events (e.g., trauma or major illness) within the last 6 months.
7. Unable to participate in PE classes due to medical or personal reasons.

E-health Group

1. Currently studying in medical, nutrition, or health-related fields.
2. Pregnant or lactating.
3. Severe mental health conditions or cognitive impairments affecting participation.
4. Currently participating in other mindfulness or digital health programs.
5. Involved in competitive sports (e.g., varsity athletes).
6. Recent major life events (e.g., trauma or major illness) within the last 6 months.
7. Unable to participate in PE classes due to medical or personal reasons.

Mindfulness + E-health Group

1. Currently studying in medical, nutrition, or health-related fields.
2. Pregnant or lactating.
3. Severe mental health conditions or cognitive impairments affecting participation.
4. Currently participating in other mindfulness or digital health programs.
5. Involved in competitive sports (e.g., varsity athletes).
6. Recent major life events (e.g., trauma or major illness) within the last 6 months.
7. Unable to participate in PE classes due to medical or personal reasons.

Control Group

1. Currently studying in medical, nutrition, or health-related fields.
2. Pregnant or lactating.
3. Severe mental health conditions or cognitive impairments affecting participation.
4. Currently participating in other mindfulness or digital health programs.
5. Involved in competitive sports (e.g., varsity athletes).
6. Recent major life events (e.g., trauma or major illness) within the last 6 months.
7. Unable to participate in PE classes due to medical or personal reasons.

Where this trial is running

Macao and 1 other locations

• UM Sports Complex (N8) , Avenida da Universidade Taipa, Macau, China — Macao, Macau (RECRUITING)
• University of Macau — Macao, Macau (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: SiMan LEI, Doctoral — University of Macau
• Study coordinator: Chi Long Choi, Master Student

Conditions: Health Literacy, Food Literacy, Media Literacy, E-health Literacy, Randomized Controlled Trial, Health literacy, Media literacy, Mindfulness