@Article{info:doi/10.2196/14074,
author="Smit, Eline Suzanne
and Zeidler, Chamoetal
and Resnicow, Ken
and de Vries, Hein",
title="Identifying the Most Autonomy-Supportive Message Frame in Digital Health Communication: A 2x2 Between-Subjects Experiment",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2019",
month="Oct",
day="30",
volume="21",
number="10",
pages="e14074",
keywords="health communication; health behavior; personal autonomy; internet; health promotion; healthy diet; self-determination theory",
abstract="Background: The effectiveness of digital health communication may be increased by enhancing autonomy supportiveness. Objective: This study aimed to identify the most autonomy-supportive message frame within an intervention for increasing vegetable intake by testing the effect of the following 2 strategies: (1) using autonomy-supportive language and (2) providing choice. Methods: A Web-based 2 (autonomy-supportive vs controlling language){\texttimes}2 (choice vs no choice) experiment was conducted among 526 participants, recruited via a research panel. The main outcome measures were perceived autonomy support (measured using the Virtual Care Climate Questionnaire, answered with scores 1 to 5), perceived relevance (measured with one question, answered with scores 1 to 5), and overall evaluation of the intervention (measured with 1 open-ended question, answered with scores 1 to 10). Results: Choice had a significant positive effect on the overall evaluation of the intervention (b=.12; P=.003), whereas for participants with a high need for autonomy, there was a significant positive effect on perceived relevance (b=.13; P=.02). The positive effect of choice on perceived autonomy support approached significance (b=.07; P=.07). No significant effects on any of the three outcomes were observed for language. Conclusions: Results suggest that provision of choice rather than the use of autonomy-supportive language can be an easy-to-implement strategy to increase the effectiveness of digital forms of health communication, especially for people with a high need for autonomy. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/14074",
url="http://www.jmir.org/2019/10/e14074/",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/14074",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31670693"
}