Determining the feasibility of a codesigned and personalised intervention (Veg4Me) to improve vegetable intake in young adults living in rural Australian communities: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

• Published in: BMJ open 2024-01, Vol.14 (1), p.e078001
• Main Authors: Livingstone, Katherine M, Rawstorn, Jonathan C, Partridge, Stephanie R, Zhang, Yuxin, O, Eric, Godrich, Stephanie L, McNaughton, Sarah A, Hendrie, Gilly A, Dullaghan, Kate, Abbott, Gavin, Blekkenhorst, Lauren C, Maddison, Ralph, Barnett, Scott, Mathers, John C, Alston, Laura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: behavior; Clinical trials; Consent; Customization; Diet; Eating behavior; ehealth; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Internet access; Intervention; Literacy; Local government; Nutrition; nutrition & dietetics; Public Health; randomized controlled trial; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recipes; Regions; Rural areas; Rural Population; Self-efficacy; Social networks; Software; Vegetables; Victoria; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078001

IntroductionDiets low in vegetables are a main contributor to the health burden experienced by young adults in rural communities. Digital health interventions provide an accessible delivery model that can be personalised to meet the diverse preferences of young adults. A personalisable digital vegetable intake intervention (Veg4Me) was codesigned to meet the needs of young adults living in rural communities. This study will determine the feasibility of delivering a personalised Veg4Me programme and compare preliminary effects with a non-personalised Veg4Me (control).Methods and analysisA 12-week assessor-blinded, two-arm, parallel randomised controlled trial will be undertaken from August 2023 until April 2024. A total of 150 eligible and consenting young adults (18–35 years; eat