This trial is to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effect of a mHealth social support program on lifestyle modifications among people at risk of metabolic syndrome in Hong Kong at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of unhealthy conditions that affects more than 1 billion people in the world. Lifestyle modifications can reduce the risk to develop metabolic syndrome, while the report showed that over 95% of people in Hong Kong did not practice healthy lifestyle. This trial is to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effect of a mHealth social support program on lifestyle modifications among people at risk of metabolic syndrome in Hong Kong. Eighty eligible participants will be recruited from community centers and be randomized into intervention group or control group. Participants in the control group will receive a mobile app with limited function, while those in the intervention group will receive a theory-guided mhealth social support program. Data will be collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months on the outcomes of feasibility, acceptability, and lifestyle modifications. Data will be analyzed using a generalized estimating equation based on the intention-to-treat principle. The findings of this study will provide valuable information for a full randomized controlled trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
80
This is a 3-month program comprises mobile app, group discussion, individual telephone contact, and reminders.
The same mobile app as the intervention group but with limited function.
Physical activity level
Total exercise amount will be quantified with a modified version of the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months
Healthy eating
Diet subscale of the Chinese version of Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. The subscale includes eight items measuring healthy eating on a 4-point Likert scale (1=never to 4=routinely), ranged from 8-32. The higher sum score indicates more adoption of healthy eating.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months
Metabolic syndrome knowledge
Chinese version of metabolic syndrome knowledge scale. 10 items cover three domains: definition and diagnosis (5 items), complications (2 items), and preventions (3 items); a higher sum score indicates better understanding of metabolic syndrome.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months
Perceived social support
Chinese version of multidimensional scale of perceived social support. 12 items measuring perceived support from family and friends; 7-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 7=strongly agree), ranged from 12 -84; a higher sum score indicates more social support is perceived.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months
Self-efficacy
Nutrition and Exercise subscale of the Chinese version of Self-rated Abilities for Health Practices. 7 items measuring diet self-efficacy and 7 items measuring PA self-efficacy; five-point Likert scale (0=not confident to 4=very confident) that a higher score indicates higher confidence to adopt lifestyle modifications in daily life.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months
Blood pressure
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Both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure will be measured by a validated and reliable upper-arm automated system (in mmHg) after resting for 20 minutes; an average of two measurements with 1-minute apart is recorded.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months
Waist circumference
Measured in the nearest 0.1 centimeter.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months
Body weight
Measured in the nearest 0.1 kilogram.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months
Body fat mass percentage
Body fat mass percentage will be assessed by a calibrated digital body composition monitor.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, and 6 months