Randomised Controlled Feasibility Study of the MyHealthAvatar-Diabetes Smartphone App for Reducing Prolonged Sitting Time in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Daniel P Bailey,Angel M Chater,Xu Zhang,Feng Dong,Lucie H Mugridge

doi:10.3390/ijerph17124414

Abstract

This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a self-regulation smartphone app for reducing prolonged sitting in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This was a two-arm, randomised, controlled feasibility trial. The intervention group used the MyHealthAvatar-Diabetes smartphone app for 8 weeks. The app uses a number of behaviour change techniques aimed at reducing and breaking up sitting time. Eligibility, recruitment, retention, and completion rates for the outcomes (sitting, standing, stepping, and health-related measures) assessed trial feasibility. Interviews with participants explored intervention acceptability. Participants with T2DM were randomised to the control (n = 10) and intervention groups (n = 10). Recruitment and retention rates were 71% and 90%, respectively. The remaining participants provided 100% of data for the study measures. The MyHealthAvatar-Diabetes app was viewed as acceptable for reducing and breaking up sitting time. There were preliminary improvements in the number of breaks in sitting per day, body fat %, glucose tolerance, attitude, intention, planning, wellbeing, and positive and negative affect in favour of the intervention group. In conclusion, the findings indicate that it would be feasible to deliver and evaluate the efficacy of the MyHealthAvatar-Diabetes app for breaking up sitting time and improving health outcomes in a full trial.

Highlights

The global prevalence of diabetes is estimated to be 415 million [1]
This study demonstrated the feasibility of implementing and evaluating the MyHealthAvatar-Diabetes smartphone app for reducing prolonged sitting in people with early-stage Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
This study demonstrates the acceptability of delivering specific behaviour change techniques (BCTs) via a smartphone app for reducing prolonged sitting in people with T2DM

Summary

Introduction

The global prevalence of diabetes is estimated to be 415 million [1]. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for 87–91% of all cases of diabetes and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), premature mortality, poor psychological wellbeing, and reduced quality of life [2,3]. Effective interventions to manage glycaemia are important for reducing the onset of these T2DM-related health outcomes [4]. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 4414; doi:10.3390/ijerph17124414 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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