From Health Information to Health Decisions Integrating Mindfulness Into Digital Learning and Daily Life

Summary

This research project aims to explore how combining e-health literacy with mindfulness practices can help university students navigate the complex landscape of e-health information and make more informed, healthier choices. Specifically, the study will assess the current levels of e-health literacy, food literacy, and media literacy among university students, and examine how these factors are related to critical thinking, decision-making confidence, and overall well-being. The project will involve a 4-arm design, including: (1) a mindfulness group, (2) an e-health group, (3) a mindfulness + e-health Group, and (4) a Control Group. Participants in the intervention groups will engage in short mindfulness exercises focused on mindful eating and movement during break times and cool-down sessions of their Physical Education (PE) classes. Additionally, digital health content (e.g., videos and articles) will be provided to enhance e-health literacy. This could lead to better-informed, more confident students who are able to make healthier choices in their daily lives, both during their university years and into the future.

Study Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week intervention delivered during PE classes, comparing the effects of:

1\. Mindfulness Group 2. E-health Group 3. Mindfulness + E-health Group 4. Control Group The intervention will assess changes in students' e-health literacy, food literacy, media literacy, critical thinking, self-compassion and decision-making self-efficacy over time, with assessments at pre-test, post-test, and 4-week follow-up.

Study Hypotheses:

1. Students in the mindfulness group, e-health group, and combined group will show significantly greater improvements in all outcome measures from pre-test to post-test compared to the control group.
2. The combined group will demonstrate the greatest gains in literacy and cognitive outcomes, due to the additive effect of both interventions.
3. Improvements will be maintained at the 4-week follow-up, particularly in the combined group.

Conditions

• Health Literacy
• Food Literacy
• Media Literacy
• E-health Literacy

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness

Structured over 8 weeks (twice weekly) with dual modules (dietary + movement), this group employs Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) to improve mind-body awareness. Week 1 establishes foundational practices through mindful eating concepts and introductory yoga; Weeks 2-4 systematically train awareness of hunger/satiety cues using partner breathing techniques, postural alignment, and group-assisted stretching; Week 5 analyzes emotional eating triggers while integrating therapeutic yoga for emotional regulation; Weeks 6-7 foster body acceptance and autonomous food choices; the program concludes with closing rituals. Rooted in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), it strengthens interoceptive awareness, non-judgmental self-acceptance, and emotional management to transform dysfunctional eating patterns.

BEHAVIORAL

e-Health Literacy

This 8-week program (twice weekly) aims to enhance participants' ability to access, evaluate, and apply digital health information. It progresses through sequential modules: Week 1 introduces e-Health literacy fundamentals and physical activity principles; Weeks 2-3 focus on nutritional assessment and personalized planning; Week 4 addresses sleep health; Weeks 5-7 train health information retrieval skills, including database navigation and source reliability verification; the final week hones critical appraisal capabilities. The intervention is based on the e-Health Literacy 3.0 model and cultivates three core competencies: digital navigation, information discernment, and evidence-based decision-making, enabling participants to independently navigate the digital health ecosystem.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Macau

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• SiMan LEI, Doctoral · University of Macau

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-20

Primary Completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2027-07-31

Countries

• Macau

Study Locations