BackgroundSelf-monitoring of dietary intake is a valuable component of behavioral weight loss treatment; however, it declines quickly, thereby resulting in suboptimal treatment outcomes.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine a novel behavioral weight loss intervention that aims to attenuate the decline in dietary self-monitoring engagement.MethodsGoalTracker was an automated randomized controlled trial. Participants were adults with overweight or obesity (n=105; aged 21-65 years; body mass index, BMI, 25-45 kg/m2) and were randomized to a 12-week stand-alone weight loss intervention using the MyFitnessPal smartphone app for daily self-monitoring of either (1) both weight and diet, with weekly lessons, action plans, and feedback (Simultaneous); (2) weight through week 4, then added diet, with the same behavioral components (Sequential); or (3) only diet (App-Only). All groups received a goal to lose 5% of initial weight by 12 weeks, a tailored calorie goal, and automated in-app reminders. Participants were recruited via online and offline methods. Weight was collected in-person at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months using calibrated scales and via self-report at 6 months. We retrieved objective self-monitoring engagement data from MyFitnessPal using an application programming interface. Engagement was defined as the number of days per week in which tracking occurred, with diet entries counted if ≥800 kcal per day. Other assessment data were collected in-person via online self-report questionnaires.ResultsAt baseline, participants (84/100 female) had a mean age (SD) of 42.7 (11.7) years and a BMI of 31.9 (SD 4.5) kg/m2. One-third (33/100) were from racial or ethnic minority groups. During the trial, 5 participants became ineligible. Of the remaining 100 participants, 84% (84/100) and 76% (76/100) completed the 1-month and 3-month visits, respectively. In intent-to-treat analyses, there was no difference in weight change at 3 months between the Sequential arm (mean −2.7 kg, 95% CI −3.9 to −1.5) and either the App-Only arm (−2.4 kg, −3.7 to −1.2; P=.78) or the Simultaneous arm (−2.8 kg, −4.0 to −1.5; P=.72). The median number of days of self-monitoring diet per week was 1.9 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.3-5.5) in Sequential (once began), 5.3 (IQR 1.8-6.7) in Simultaneous, and 2.9 (IQR 1.2-5.2) in App-Only. Weight was tracked 4.8 (IQR 1.9-6.3) days per week in Sequential and 5.1 (IQR 1.8-6.3) days per week in Simultaneous. Engagement in neither diet nor weight tracking differed between arms.ConclusionsRegardless of the order in which diet is tracked, using tailored goals and a commercial mobile app can produce clinically significant weight loss. Stand-alone digital health treatments may be a viable option for those looking for a lower intensity approach.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03254953; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03254953 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/72PyQrFjn).

No abstract

No abstract

BACKGROUND: Older adults with asthma have low levels of adherence to their prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). While prior research has identified demographic and cognitive factors associated with ICS adherence among elderly asthmatics, little is known about the strategies that older adults use to achieve daily use of their medications. Identifying such strategies could provide clinicians with useful advice for patients when counseling their patients about ICS adherence. OBJECTIVE: To identify medication use strategies associated with good ICS adherence in older adults. PARTICIPANTS: English-speaking and Spanishspeaking adults ages 60 years and older with moderate or severe asthma were recruited from primary care and pulmonary practices in New York City, NY, and Chicago, IL. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, other chronic lung diseases or a smoking history of greater than 10 pack-years were excluded. MAIN MEASURES: Medication adherence was assessed with the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). Medication use strategies were assessed via open-ended questioning. "Good adherence" was defined as a mean MARS score of 4.5 or greater. KEY RESULTS: The rate of good adherence to ICS was 37 %. We identified six general categories of medication adherence strategies: keeping the medication in a usual location (44.2 %), integrating medication use with a daily routine (32.6 %), taking the medication at a specific time (21.7 %), taking the medication with other medications (13.4 %), using the medication only when needed (13.4 %), and using other reminders (11.9 %). The good adherence rate was greater among individuals who kept their ICS medication in the bathroom (adjusted odds ration [AOR] 3.05, 95 % CI 1.03-9.02, p=0.04) or integrated its use into a daily routine (AOR 3.77, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Keeping ICS medications in the bathroom and integrating them into daily routines are strategies associated with good ICS adherence. Clinicians concerned with adherence should consider recommending these strategies to their older asthmatic patients, although additional research is needed to determine whether such advice would improve adherence behaviors.