Evaluating the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial

Abstract Objectives: To determine the utility of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a measure for gauging self-reported reasons for participation in a range of health behaviours, and as a basis for targeting behaviour change interventions. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Methods: A sampl...

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Main Authors: Claire Stevens, Lion Shahab, Robert West
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.FPUBH.2016.01.00004/full
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author Claire Stevens
Lion Shahab
Robert West
author_facet Claire Stevens
Lion Shahab
Robert West
author_sort Claire Stevens
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives: To determine the utility of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a measure for gauging self-reported reasons for participation in a range of health behaviours, and as a basis for targeting behaviour change interventions. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Methods: A sample of 639 UK adults (18+ years) were recruited into an online study and asked about their participation in four health behaviours; smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption. Those with a health behaviour to modify (N=130) were allocated a behaviour change target and completed the RAL. Eligible participants (N=97) were then randomised to one of two groups; an intervention group received brief motivating information based on their RAL response (on-target), the control received information mismatched to their RAL response (off-target). Following intervention delivery, behavioural response was measured by recording whether participants clicked on a link to find out more about changing their target behaviour. Results: Three-quarters (N= 97, 74.60%, 95% CI: 67.12 – 82.08) of participants felt the RAL provided a suitable response option that identified why they had not changed their target behaviour and 60% (N=78, 95% CI: 51.58 – 68.42) agreed that it was easy to select just one option. Logistic regression confirmed that those in the intervention group had greater odds of clicking the link than those in the control group (OR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.01 – 7.91). Conclusions: The response to the RAL was generally positive and this pilot study provides tentative support for the use of the RAL to develop effective, targeted interventions.
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spelling doaj.art-9bedea363ab945de9f3926c5b030b7522022-12-22T03:09:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652015-10-01410.3389/conf.FPUBH.2016.01.00004171244Evaluating the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trialClaire Stevens0Lion Shahab1Robert West2UCLUCLUCLAbstract Objectives: To determine the utility of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a measure for gauging self-reported reasons for participation in a range of health behaviours, and as a basis for targeting behaviour change interventions. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Methods: A sample of 639 UK adults (18+ years) were recruited into an online study and asked about their participation in four health behaviours; smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption. Those with a health behaviour to modify (N=130) were allocated a behaviour change target and completed the RAL. Eligible participants (N=97) were then randomised to one of two groups; an intervention group received brief motivating information based on their RAL response (on-target), the control received information mismatched to their RAL response (off-target). Following intervention delivery, behavioural response was measured by recording whether participants clicked on a link to find out more about changing their target behaviour. Results: Three-quarters (N= 97, 74.60%, 95% CI: 67.12 – 82.08) of participants felt the RAL provided a suitable response option that identified why they had not changed their target behaviour and 60% (N=78, 95% CI: 51.58 – 68.42) agreed that it was easy to select just one option. Logistic regression confirmed that those in the intervention group had greater odds of clicking the link than those in the control group (OR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.01 – 7.91). Conclusions: The response to the RAL was generally positive and this pilot study provides tentative support for the use of the RAL to develop effective, targeted interventions.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.FPUBH.2016.01.00004/fullDietSmoking Cessationphysical activityBehaviour ChangeAlcohol consumptionTargeted interventions
spellingShingle Claire Stevens
Lion Shahab
Robert West
Evaluating the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial
Frontiers in Public Health
Diet
Smoking Cessation
physical activity
Behaviour Change
Alcohol consumption
Targeted interventions
title Evaluating the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial
title_full Evaluating the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial
title_fullStr Evaluating the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial
title_short Evaluating the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial
title_sort evaluating the risk acceptance ladder ral as a basis for targeting communication aimed at prompting attempts to improve health related behaviours a pilot randomised controlled trial
topic Diet
Smoking Cessation
physical activity
Behaviour Change
Alcohol consumption
Targeted interventions
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.FPUBH.2016.01.00004/full
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