Rationale and design of an online educational programme using a game-based learning platform to improve nutrition and physical activity outcomes among university students in the UK

Objective: To assess the impact of online quiz-games on nutrition knowledge and related outcomes among university students in the UK. Design: Randomized controlled trial with pre and post intervention comparisons. Setting: Two higher education settings in London, UK Participants: Current undergraduate and postgraduate students of two universities (n=90) aged 18-34 years will be randomly allocated to an intervention (n=45) or a control group (n=45). Intervention: The intervention group will receive access to a website and online quiz-games including educational information about healthy eating and physical activity. The control group will receive no information. Duration of the intervention will be 10 weeks. Outcome Measure(s): Primary outcome is nutrition knowledge. Secondary outcomes include diet and activity behaviours. Nutrition and activity knowledge and behaviour will be assessed using questionnaires. Weekly steps will be counted using pedometers. Anthropometry and assessment of metabolic risk factors will take place. Analysis: Quantitative analysis will investigate changes in knowledge regarding healthy eating and physical activity between the groups of the studying population. Factors affecting knowledge will be explored. Associations between changes in knowledge and dietary and physical activity behaviour will be assessed by correlations.