Investigating the Efficacy of a Mobile App Intervention to Change Youth and Their Families' Health Behaviours

Summary

This study is the second of three sub-studies aimed at evaluating the outcomes of the Living Green and Healthy for Teens (LiGHT) program, delivered through the Aim2Be app (v2.2). Aim2Be is an app for 10 to 17 year olds and their families that is intended to help them shift from an healthy lifestyle toward better health habits in four areas: nutrition, physical activity, recreational screen time, and sleep. This second evaluation has the following aims to: 1) describe reach; 2) assess change in knowledge of Canadian health recommendations; and 3) assess change in lifestyle behaviours and weight outcomes and whether these changes are moderated by involvement in the app. This study uses a two-group parallel/crossover randomized controlled trial design following N=200 families for six months.

Conditions

• Obesity, Pediatric

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Aim2Be app with Live Coach + Fitbit + BMI tracking tools

Participants will spend six months using the Aim2Be app setting aims, completing tasks, accessing articles, doing self-assessments, and participating in the social wall. They will also complete a series of questionnaires, dietary recalls, BMI tracking using scales and tape measures, and physical activity tracking using Fitbits. Participants in this condition will have access to the Live Coach and the Virtual Coach. The Live Coach has specialized training in lifestyle and motivational interviewing and will support families in changing their health behaviours through in-app messaging and phone calls. The Virtual Coach gives guidance to families through an avatar that has been programmed using motivational interviewing theory.

BEHAVIORAL

Aim2Be app waitlist + Canadian Health Recommendations + Fitbit + BMI tracking tools, then flip to Aim2Be app with Virtual Coach + Fitbit + BMI tracking tools

Participants in this condition will be waitlisted for three months while they receive standard of care (Canadian Health Recommendations for physical activity, dietary habits, screen behaviours, and sleep). Participants will gain access to the Aim2Be app with Virtual Coach after the three month assessment. Participants will then spend three months using the Aim2Be app setting aims, completing tasks, accessing articles, doing self-assessments, and participating in the social wall. For the whole six months, participants will complete a series of questionnaires, dietary recalls, BMI tracking using scales and tape measures, and physical activity tracking using Fitbits. Participants in this condition will have access to the Virtual Coach only. The Virtual Coach gives guidance to families through an avatar that has been programmed using motivational interviewing theory.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Childhood Obesity Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Ayogo Health Inc.

  collaborator OTHER

• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Merck Canada Inc.

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Pacific Blue Cross

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

  collaborator OTHER

• David Suzuki Foundation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Craving Change

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Diabetes Canada

  collaborator OTHER

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• British Columbia Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute

  collaborator OTHER

• The Hospital for Sick Children

  collaborator OTHER

• Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

  collaborator OTHER

• Alberta Health services

  collaborator OTHER

• The Governors of the University of Alberta

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Alberta

  collaborator OTHER

• Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

  collaborator OTHER

• Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Canada

  collaborator OTHER

• Canadian Obesity Network

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of British Columbia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Louise C Masse, PhD · University of British Columbia, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-11-01

Primary Completion

2020-03-30

Completion

2022-06-23

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations