Randomized Clinical Trial to Increase Self-Monitoring of Physical Activity and Eating Behaviors in Youth: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Mobile health (mHealth) has the potential to reduce reliance on in-person healthcare visits, making monitoring of health, eating, and physical activity less burdensome. There is a great need to develop and test mHealth tools for pediatric weight loss programs to enhance clinical practice. This study aimed to test the feasibility of utilizing a tailored suite of mHealth components to augment an existing evidence-based in-person pediatric weight management program. Method Using a two-group randomized superiority trial design, participants who completed baseline measurement were randomized to Brenner Families in Training (Brenner FIT) or Brenner FIT + mHealth (Brenner mFIT), and follow-up measures were completed at 3 and 6 months. Feasibility was assessed in terms of screening, recruitment, randomization, retention, and the assessment process. Acceptability was assessed in terms of program completion, and implementation fidelity was assessed in terms of logging activity, frequency of self-monitoring, goal setting, and retention rate. Results Overall, 173 dyads were eligible for enrollment based on inclusion criteria. Twenty-five dyads consented to participate. Sixteen dyads completed baseline psychosocial questionnaires, eight dyads completed at least two 24-h dietary recalls, and 20 (youth) participants returned accelerometers. Of the 14 dyads who completed enrollment, seven dyads were each randomized into the intervention and control groups, with ten and five dyads retained at three and six months, respectively. A total of four caregivers and two youth who utilized the website for goal setting set at least one goal, all seven youth linked their activity tracker, and most downloaded at least one video (two youth) or podcast (six caregivers). Conclusions Our results suggest that the assessment protocol was overly burdensome, the intervention had low acceptability, and the study as designed was not feasible to complete. Future studies should evaluate barriers and facilitators to the uptake of mHealth.