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Preference for behavior change strategies in randomized controlled trials: Evidence from weight management
Michael Sobolev1, Julissa Ruiz2, Márcio A Diniz3
1Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
Contemporary Clinical Trials
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Nearly 40% of participants in a weight management trial showed a preference for a specific study arm, even when willing to be randomized. Understanding this preference is key for improving trial retention and outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Trials
- Weight Management
Background:
- Participant preference for study arms can influence trial enrollment and duration.
- Understanding participant preferences is crucial for effective clinical trial design.
- The Avoid/Resist trial investigates strategies to bridge the intention-behavior gap in weight management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess participant preferences for two distinct weight management strategies: Avoid (pantry makeover, online grocery) and Resist (inhibitory control training).
- To identify clusters of participants based on their liking and perceived benefits of the intervention strategies before randomization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a screening process where participants rated strategies on affective valence and instrumental utility.
- Employed K-means clustering to group individuals based on their preferences.
- Collected data from 306 participants between January 2024 and January 2025.
Main Results:
- High correlations (>0.70) were observed between liking and perceived benefit ratings for both strategies.
- Both Avoid and Resist strategies received high median scores for liking and perceived benefits.
- Three distinct preference clusters emerged: highly favorable to both (61%), preference for Resist (22%), and preference for Avoid (17%).
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of individuals (nearly 40%) exhibit a relative preference for a specific arm, even when open to randomization.
- Further research is necessary to elucidate the impact of relative preference on retention, adherence, and outcomes in weight management trials.
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