Atlas:Text Messaging Program With Weather Alerts, Local Resources & Insights for Addressing Climate Change

NCT06995755 — Not applicable, Completed, 54 participants, Pro-Change Behavior Systems

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Atlas: An Interactive Text Messaging Program Combining Weather Alerts With Hyper-Localized Resources & Actionable Insights for Addressing Climate Change.

RegistryNCT06995755
StatusCompleted
PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional; na, single group, masking: none, treatment
Enrollment54 (Actual)
SponsorPro-Change Behavior Systems (Other)
ConditionsClimate Change
Interventionsatlas (Behavioral)
Datesstart 2024-06-25, primary completion 2024-08-21, completion 2024-08-21, first posted 2025-05-29, last updated 2025-06-26
Locations1 site in United States

Related Papers Related Patents Related Grants Related Experts
All trials for Climate Change All trials of atlas

-Summary

Climate change is an urgent public health threat, and climate-related health risks disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. To date, digital climate change communications have been limited to one-directional, one size-fits all messaging based on a single theoretical approach (i.e., framing). This Phase I SBIR explored the acceptability and effects of an innovative solution: atlas - an interactive text messaging program that leverages insights from behavior change science and integrates data from the National Weather Service to engage a broad spectrum of users with varying levels of concern about climate change and tailor the user experience.

atlas 1) provided information on current climate-related and environmental risks (e.g., high temperatures, air quality alerts, asthma triggers etc.) that might adversely affect a user's current health conditions; 2) linked users to local zip-code matched resources to mitigate their specific risk (e.g., cooling centers, hurricane shelters); 3) implemented a full range of best practices in tailored health behavior change communications to personalize ongoing communications regarding the link between human actions and extreme weather based on the user's level of concern about and belief in climate change; and 4) provided customized actionable tips for addressing climate change to promote climate efficacy at the individual, community, and policy/advocacy level based on the user's level of motivation.

Developed in collaboration with community members, 2 community health experts, and 4 climate change experts, atlas achieved sustained engagement and impact by hyper-personalizing the user experience and seamlessly integrating actionable insights from multiple theories of behavior change and communication frameworks. Extensive end user and expert input ensured atlas was designed for rapid dissemination.

Residents of a city in a New England state (n=54) were recruited to participate in a 30-day pilot test. The primary outcome, response efficacy for taking steps to mitigate climate change, was assessed across individual, collective, and governmental levels from pretest (baseline) to posttest (30-day follow-up). The hypothesis was that the atlas users will have increased response efficacy.

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+Arms and interventions

ArmTypeInterventionsDescription
atlas usersExperimentalBehavioral: atlasAll participants were provided with access to the intervention (atlas)
  • atlas (Behavioral): A theoretically-grounded, highly individualized text messaging intervention that 1) provided information on current climate-related and environmental risks (e.g., high temperatures, air quality alerts, asthma triggers etc.) that might adversely affect a user's current health conditions; 2) linked users to local zip-code matched resources to mitigate their specific risk (e.g., cooling centers, hurricane shelters); 3) implemented a full range of best practices in tailored health behavior change communications to personalize ongoing communications regarding the link between human actions and extreme weather based on the user's level of concern about and belief in climate change; and 4) provided customized actionable tips for addressing climate change to promote climate efficacy at the individual, community, and policy/advocacy level based on the user's level of motivation.

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

  • Response Efficacy Scale [Pretest (baseline) and Posttest (30 day follow-up)]: A 3-item measure of response efficacy that assessed individual, community, and governmental/policy level efficacy for mitigating climate change. It is measured using a Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 3 to 15. Higher scores reflect a better outcome.

Secondary outcomes

  • Confidence [Pretest (baseline) and Posttest (30 day follow-up)]: This 3-item scale assesses an individual's confidence level in taking at least one climate friendly action in the next month. Ratings of confidence will be made on a 5-point Likert scale (1=not at all; 5=extremely confident). Raw scores range from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 15, with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

+Eligibility

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to any

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 or older
* Being a little, moderately, very or extremely sure that climate change is happening now

Exclusion Criteria:

* Younger than 18
* Being not at all sure that climate change is happening now

+Posted results

Participant flow

MilestoneAtlas Users
Started54
Completed46
Not completed8

Outcome results

  • Response Efficacy Scale (Primary), Mean, score on a scale: Atlas Users 9.69 +/- 2.87
  • Confidence (Secondary), Mean, score on a scale: Atlas Users 3.03 +/- 0.85

Adverse events

Time frame: Through study completion, up to 30 days

ArmDeathsSerious adverse eventsOther adverse events
Atlas Users0/54 (0.0%)0/54 (0.0%)0/54 (0.0%)

+Locations (1)

FacilityCityCountryStatus
Pro-Change Behavior SystemsNarragansett, Rhode IslandUnited States

+Study documents

+Investigators