Feasibility and pilot testing of mobile health apps to supplement 2 healthy lifestyle interventions in chronic traumatic brain injury

Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J89964

Journal:

Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2022 , 37, 3, 162-170

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study evaluated the feasibility of mobile health (mHealth) apps for enhancing participation of people with chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the Group Lifestyle Balance (GLB-TBI) weight loss intervention and the Brain Health Group (BHG-TBI) active control intervention. The GLB-TBI is a 12-month group- and community-based program to promote healthy eating and physical activity. The BHG-TBI, a 12-month group- and community-based program to promote general brain health, was designed as an active control condition matched on time, structure, and perceived benefit to the GLB-TBI. Both apps delivered brief daily educational and motivational "tips" derived directly from their respective curricula. In a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of the GLB-TBI for weight loss, 56 overweight/obese adults with moderate-severe TBI used a group-specific mHealth app providing daily tips customized according to their intervention allocation. Feasibility of the apps was measured based on compliance (percentage of daily prompts read and completed) and participant-reported satisfaction and usability. Daily use of the apps varied greatly across participants, with most participants who used the apps completing 10 to 50 percent of daily content. Participants found the apps to be easy to use, but only some found them helpful. App use was substantially different for those who participated in the intervention during (2020) versus before (2019) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Author(s):