TY - JOUR
T1 - Using mobile technology to improve bone-related lifestyle risk factors in young women with low bone mineral density
T2 - Feasibility randomized controlled trial
AU - Subasinghe, Asvini Kokila
AU - Garland, Suzanne Marie
AU - Gorelik, Alexandra
AU - Tay, Ilona
AU - Wark, John Dennis
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a program grant (568971) from the National Health and Medical Research Council. We would like to thank Stefanie Hartley, students and other staff who helped collect data for the YFHI study, and the participants, without whom this study would not have been possible.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 JMIR Formative Research. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - Background: Poor bone health in adolescent and young adult females is a growing concern. Given the widespread use of mobile phones in this population, mobile health (mHealth) interventions may help improve health behaviors related to bone health in young women. Objective: The goal of the study was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of an mHealth intervention called Tap4Bone in improving health behaviors associated with the risk of osteoporosis in young women. Methods: The Tap4Bone mHealth intervention comprised the use of mobile phone apps, short messaging service (text messaging), and Web emails to encourage health behavior changes. The education group received osteoporosis prevention education leaflets. Changes in the bone health-related behaviors exercise, smoking, and calcium intake were assessed. User experiences and acceptance of the app were collected through focus group interviews. Results: A total of 35 (22 completed, mean age 23.1 [SD 1.8] years) were randomized to either the mobile phone (intervention n=18) or education (control n=17) group. Although there were trends toward improvement in calcium intake, sports activity, and smoking behaviors in the mHealth intervention group compared to the education group, these were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The Tap4Bone mHealth intervention was shown to be acceptable and feasible in subsets of the participants. The intervention should be improved upon using participant feedback to improve functionality. Findings from this study may aid in the development and modification of health care apps to reduce participant attrition.
AB - Background: Poor bone health in adolescent and young adult females is a growing concern. Given the widespread use of mobile phones in this population, mobile health (mHealth) interventions may help improve health behaviors related to bone health in young women. Objective: The goal of the study was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of an mHealth intervention called Tap4Bone in improving health behaviors associated with the risk of osteoporosis in young women. Methods: The Tap4Bone mHealth intervention comprised the use of mobile phone apps, short messaging service (text messaging), and Web emails to encourage health behavior changes. The education group received osteoporosis prevention education leaflets. Changes in the bone health-related behaviors exercise, smoking, and calcium intake were assessed. User experiences and acceptance of the app were collected through focus group interviews. Results: A total of 35 (22 completed, mean age 23.1 [SD 1.8] years) were randomized to either the mobile phone (intervention n=18) or education (control n=17) group. Although there were trends toward improvement in calcium intake, sports activity, and smoking behaviors in the mHealth intervention group compared to the education group, these were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The Tap4Bone mHealth intervention was shown to be acceptable and feasible in subsets of the participants. The intervention should be improved upon using participant feedback to improve functionality. Findings from this study may aid in the development and modification of health care apps to reduce participant attrition.
KW - Behavior therapy methods
KW - Health behavior
KW - Mobile phones
KW - Primary prevention methods
KW - Self-care methods
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096861410&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2196/formative.9435
DO - 10.2196/formative.9435
M3 - Article
C2 - 30801253
AN - SCOPUS:85096861410
SN - 2561-326X
VL - 3
JO - JMIR Formative Research
JF - JMIR Formative Research
IS - 1
M1 - e9435
ER -