Online grocery changes to increase whole grain intake
Prompting a Switch From Refined Grains to Whole Grains in an Online Grocery Store Using Marketing Nudges and Financial Incentives
NA · University of Pennsylvania · NCT07167004
This project will see if personalized online grocery nudges, with or without adaptive discounts, help adults 45–70 with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes switch from refined to whole grain products.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 216 (estimated) |
| Ages | 45 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Pennsylvania (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT07167004 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized intervention uses an online grocery platform to test two approaches: behaviorally informed marketing nudges alone and those nudges plus dynamically adapted financial incentives. The platform will be customized to feature whole grain items prominently, offer product swaps, and display banner promotions, with a small usability pilot (n=9) informing refinements. Participants are Penn Medicine patients aged 45–70 with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes who shop online and live in five Pennsylvania counties, and outcomes are measured by actual online purchases. The trial is designed to establish feasibility of running an RCT through an online grocery delivery service and to measure changes in whole grain purchasing behavior.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Penn Medicine patients aged 45–70 with a diagnosis of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes who eat fewer than five servings of whole grains per week, shop for groceries online at least monthly, live in Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, or Montgomery Counties, and have internet access and a payment card.
Not a fit: People who already consume adequate whole grains, do not shop for groceries online, cannot speak English, live outside the specified counties, or cannot provide consent are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase whole grain purchases and intake among people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, which may help lower diabetes-related risk factors over time.
How similar studies have performed: Previous behavioral nudges and financial incentive programs have shown modest success in shifting grocery purchases toward healthier options, but using dynamically adapted discounts for whole grains in an online grocery RCT is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 45 - 70 years. * Able to provide consent. * Resident of Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, or Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania. * Consume \<5 servings of whole grains per week. * Use online grocery shopping at least once per month. * Have access to a credit or debit card to pay for groceries purchased. * Have reliable internet access. * Speak English. * Penn Medicine patient diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes (identified using ICD-10 codes R73.03, E11). Exclusion Criteria: * Does not meet all the inclusion criteria. * Not able to speak English. * Not able to provide consent.
Where this trial is running
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sophia V Hua, PhD, MPH — Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Emily Dzieniszewski, MPH
- Email: Emily.Dzieniszewski@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu
- Phone: 215-898-0954
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Type II Diabetes, Pre-diabetes, Pre-diabetic, Pre-diabetic State, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, chronic disease