Face-to-Face Versus Mobile Versus Blended Weight Loss Program: Randomized Clinical Trial

Hurkmans, Emalie; Matthys, Christophe; Bogaerts, An; Scheys, Lennart; Devloo, Karlien; Seghers, Jan

doi:10.2196/mhealth.7713

Cited by 58 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…One study reported no improvement in systolic blood pressure with app use, although there was a small improvement in medication adherence [ 47 ]. Hurkmans et al [ 48 ] showed that addition of an app in a weight loss program did not improve dietary patterns or physical activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefits of Mobile Apps in Pain Management: Systematic Review

Thurnheer¹,

Gravestock²,

Pichierri³

et al. 2018

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

127

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BackgroundPain is a common condition with a significant physical, psychosocial, and economic impact. Due to enormous progress in mobile device technology as well as the increase in smartphone ownership in the general population, mobile apps can be used to monitor patients with pain and support them in pain management.ObjectiveThe aim of this review was to assess the efficacy of smartphone or computer tablet apps in the management of patients with pain.MethodsIn December 2017, a literature search was performed in the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PsycINFO. In addition, a bibliography search was conducted. We included studies with at least 20 participants per arm that evaluated the effects of apps on smartphones or computer tablets on improvement in pain.ResultsA total of 15 studies with 1962 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 4 studies examined the effect of mobile apps on pain management in an in-clinic setting and 11 in an out-clinic setting. The majority of the original studies reported beneficial effects of the use of a pain app. Severity of pain decreased in most studies where patients were using an app compared with patients not using an app. Other outcomes, such as worst pain or quality of life showed improvements in patients using an app. Due to heterogeneity between the original studies—patient characteristics, app content, and study setting—a synthesis of the results by statistical methods was not performed.ConclusionsApps for pain management may be beneficial for patients, particularly in an out-clinic setting. Studies have shown that pain apps are workable and well liked by patients and health care professionals. There is no doubt that in the near future, mobile technologies will develop further. Medicine could profit from this development as indicated by our results, but there is a need for more scientific inputs. It is desirable to know which elements of apps or additional devices and tools may improve usability and help patients in pain management.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefits of Mobile Apps in Pain Management: Systematic Review

Thurnheer¹,

Gravestock²,

Pichierri³

et al. 2018

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

127

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show abstract

“…This is consistent with a recent study that randomized 102 participants into 3 weight loss intervention arms versus control for 12 weeks: a personal contact arm, an mHealth app-only arm, and a combined arm with personal contact and an mHealth app. The authors reported that the combined personal contact and mHealth app arm was as effective as the personal contact arm and tended to be more effective than the mHealth app arm [ 33 ]. Thus, future research should explore novel combination of effective components of conventional and mHealth strategies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Association Between Engagement and Weight Loss Through Personal Coaching and Cell Phone Interventions in Young Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial

Lin¹,

Grambow²,

Intille³

et al. 2018

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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BackgroundUnderstanding how engagement in mobile health (mHealth) weight loss interventions relates to weight change may help develop effective intervention strategies.ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the (1) patterns of participant engagement overall and with key intervention components within each intervention arm in the Cell Phone Intervention For You (CITY) trial; (2) associations of engagement with weight change; and (3) participant characteristics related to engagement.MethodsThe CITY trial tested two 24-month weight loss interventions. One was delivered with a smartphone app (cell phone) containing 24 components (weight tracking, etc) and included prompting by the app in predetermined frequency and forms. The other was delivered by a coach via monthly calls (personal coaching) supplemented with limited app components (18 overall) and without any prompting by the app. Engagement was assessed by calculating the percentage of days each app component was used and the frequency of use. Engagement was also examined across 4 weight change categories: gained (≥2%), stable (±2%), mild loss (≥2% to <5%), and greater loss (≥5%).ResultsData from 122 cell phone and 120 personal coaching participants were analyzed. Use of the app was the highest during month 1 for both arms; thereafter, use dropped substantially and continuously until the study end. During the first 6 months, the mean percentage of days that any app component was used was higher for the cell phone arm (74.2%, SD 20.1) than for the personal coaching arm (48.9%, SD 22.4). The cell phone arm used the apps an average of 5.3 times/day (SD 3.1), whereas the personal coaching participants used them 1.7 times/day (SD 1.2). Similarly, the former self-weighed more than the latter (57.1% days, SD 23.7 vs 32.9% days, SD 23.3). Furthermore, the percentage of days any app component was used, number of app uses per day, and percentage of days self-weighed all showed significant differences across the 4 weight categories for both arms. Pearson correlation showed a negative association between weight change and the percentage of days any app component was used (cell phone: r=−.213; personal coaching: r=−.319), number of apps use per day (cell phone: r=−.264; personal coaching: r=−.308), and percentage of days self-weighed (cell phone: r=−.297; personal coaching: r=−.354). None of the characteristics examined, including age, gender, race, education, income, energy expenditure, diet quality, and hypertension status, appeared to be related to engagement.ConclusionsEngagement in CITY intervention was associated with weight loss during the first 6 months. Nevertheless, engagement dropped substantially early on for most intervention components. Prompting may be helpful initially. More flexible and less intrusive prompting strategies may be needed during different stages of an intervention to increase or sustain engagement. Future studies should explore the motivations for engagement and nonengagement to determine meaningful levels of engagement required for effective inter...

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“…The authors reported that the combined personal contact and mHealth app group was as effective as the personal contact only and tended to be more effective than the mHealth app only group. [32] Thus, future research should explore novel combination of effective components of conventional and mHealth strategies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Association Between Engagement and Weight Loss Through Personal Coaching and Cell Phone Interventions in Young Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Lin¹,

Grambow²,

Intille³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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(450 words limit, now 433)Background: Mobile health (mHealth) technology provides innovative ways to deliver weight loss interventions. Understanding how engagement in mHealth interventions relates to weight change may help develop more effective intervention strategies. Objectives: To examine 1) patterns of participant engagement overall and in key intervention features within the interventions of the Cell Phone Intervention For You (CITY) clinical trial, 2) associations of engagement with weight change, and 3) characteristics of participants that are related to engagement. Methods: The CITY trial tested two 24-month behavioral weight loss interventions. One was delivered with a smartphone application (app) (Cell Phone; CP) that contained 24 features (weighing, tracking of diets, etc.) and included regular prompting by the app in pre-determined frequency and forms. The other intervention was delivered by a coach via monthly phone calls (Personal Coaching; PC) supplemented with limited app features (18 total) and without any prompting by the app. Engagement was assessed by calculating the percentage of days each app feature was used and the frequency of usage. Engagement was also examined across four weight change categories: gained (≥2%), stable (±2%), mild loss (≥2% to <5%), and greater loss (≥5%). Results: Data from 122 CP and 120 PC participants were analyzed. Usage of the app features was highest during month 1 for both groups; thereafter, usage dropped substantially and continuously until the end of the study. During the first six months, mean percentage of days any app feature was used was higher for the CP (74.2%, standard deviation [SD], 20.1) than for the PC group (48.9%, SD, 22.4). The CP group used the app features an average of 5.3 times/day [SD, 3.1], while the PC used them 1.7 times/day [SD, 1.2]. Similarly, when the self-weighing feature was examined alone, CP self-weighed more than PC (57.1% days [SD, 23.7] vs. 32.9% [23.3]). Further, percentage of days any app feature was used, number of app usages/day and percentage of days self-weighed all showed significant differences across the four weight categories for both CP and PC. Pearson correlation coefficients showed a negative linear association between weight change and percentage of days any app feature was used (CP: r=-0.213; PC: r=-0.319), number of app usages/day (CP:r=-0.264; PC:r=-0.308), and percentage of days self-weighed (CP:r=-0.297; PC:r=-0.354). Conclusion: Engagement in CITY intervention was associated with weight loss during the first six months. Nevertheless, engagement dropped substantially early on for most intervention features. Prompting may be helpful initially. More flexible and less-intrusive prompting strategies may be needed during different stages of an intervention to increase or sustain engagement. Future studies should explore the motivations for engagement and non-engagement in order to design effective intervention. Trial Registration: NCT01092364

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Face-to-Face Versus Mobile Versus Blended Weight Loss Program: Randomized Clinical Trial

Cited by 58 publications

References 27 publications

Benefits of Mobile Apps in Pain Management: Systematic Review

Benefits of Mobile Apps in Pain Management: Systematic Review

The Association Between Engagement and Weight Loss Through Personal Coaching and Cell Phone Interventions in Young Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial

The Association Between Engagement and Weight Loss Through Personal Coaching and Cell Phone Interventions in Young Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

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