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Pilot randomised controlled trial of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a tool for targeting health communications

Perski, O; Stevens, C; West, R; Shahab, L; (2020) Pilot randomised controlled trial of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a tool for targeting health communications. Qeios 10.32388/7idpz6. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

Objective: To assess the possible effectiveness of an online version of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) in promoting help-seeking relating to a range of health behaviours. Design: Pilot randomised controlled trial. Methods: 843 UK adults were recruited, of whom 602 engaged in at least one of four risky health behaviours; cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity, or low fruit and vegetable consumption. Those with no immediate plans to change completed a behaviour specific RAL (n = 171). Participants were randomised to one of two conditions; a short message congruent (on-target, n = 73) or incongruent (off-target, n = 98) with their RAL response. Performance of the RAL was assessed by participants’ ability to select an applicable RAL item and reported ease of use of the RAL. Effectiveness of the RAL was assessed by whether or not participants clicked a link to receive information about changing their target behaviour. Results: Two thirds (68.9%, 95% CI = 61.8%-75.3%) of participants were able to select an applicable RAL item that corresponded to what they believed would need to change in order to change their target behaviour and 64.9% (95% CI = 57.5%-71.7%) reported that it was easy to select one option. Participants allocated to the on-target group were more likely to click on the link to receive information (31.5% vs 19.4%; OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.01-4.26). Conclusions: The Risk Acceptance Ladder may have utility as a tool for tailoring messages to prompt initial steps to engaging in self-protective behaviours.

Type: Article
Title: Pilot randomised controlled trial of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a tool for targeting health communications
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.32388/7idpz6
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.32388/7idpz6
Language: English
Additional information: This is an article published under Creative Commons licence CC-BY 4.0
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Behavioural Science and Health
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10096957
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