An interactive mobile phone app (SMART 5-A-DAY) for increasing knowledge of and adherence to fruit and vegetable recommendations: Development and pilot randomized controlled trial

Authors: Appleton, K.M., Passmore, D., Burn, I., Pidgeon, H., Nation, P., Boobyer, C. and Jiang, N.

Journal: JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Volume: 7

Issue: 11

eISSN: 2291-5222

DOI: 10.2196/14380

Abstract:

Background: Fruit and vegetable consumption is important for health, but many individuals fail to consume adequate amounts for health benefits. Although many individuals are aware of current fruit and vegetable consumption recommendations, research suggests that adherence to these is hampered by low knowledge of the details of these recommendations. Objective: This paper reports the development and details of a pilot randomized controlled test of a novel interactive mobile phone app for addressing low knowledge of the UK 5-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendations. Methods: Requirements for the app were first defined by researchers and potential end users and prioritized using the MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have) method. Second, a prototype mobile phone app was developed using an agile approach. Third, the prototype app was tested in a randomized controlled pilot trial for impacts on knowledge and intake of fruit and vegetables. Volunteers were randomized to either receive (n=50) or not receive the app (n=44) for 2 or 4 weeks, and fruit and vegetable knowledge, intake, and behavior were assessed at the beginning of the study and after 1 and 2 weeks or after 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. App usage and qualitative feedback were also investigated. All findings then informed the development of a final app. Results: Low knowledge of consumption recommendations centered around portion sizes and the need for variety, and an interactive mobile phone app was considered a suitable tool for improving this knowledge in a practical manner that would be available both at time of consumption and outside of these times. The pilot test revealed improved behavior after 2 weeks compared with baseline in volunteers who received the app, but improvements in knowledge on fruit and vegetable recommendations were found in both groups, and no improvements in fruit and vegetable intakes were found in formal measures. Patterns of app usage and qualitative feedback also suggested a number of modifications. The resultant final app incorporates several behavior change techniques (goal-setting, self-monitoring, and personalized feedback) as well as aiming to improve knowledge. Conclusions: A novel interactive mobile phone app was successfully developed based on requirements, and when tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial, this app was found to have some impacts on fruit and vegetable outcomes. Although benefits from the app were small, impacts will likely increase as a result of recent modifications. The final SMART 5-A-DAY app is available in the Google Play Store and now needs testing in the target population. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02779491; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02779491.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32854/

Source: Scopus

An Interactive Mobile Phone App (SMART 5-A-DAY) for Increasing Knowledge of and Adherence to Fruit and Vegetable Recommendations: Development and Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Authors: Appleton, K.M., Passmore, D., Burn, I., Pidgeon, H., Nation, P., Boobyer, C. and Jiang, N.

Journal: JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

Volume: 7

Issue: 11

Pages: e14380

eISSN: 2291-5222

DOI: 10.2196/14380

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Fruit and vegetable consumption is important for health, but many individuals fail to consume adequate amounts for health benefits. Although many individuals are aware of current fruit and vegetable consumption recommendations, research suggests that adherence to these is hampered by low knowledge of the details of these recommendations. OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the development and details of a pilot randomized controlled test of a novel interactive mobile phone app for addressing low knowledge of the UK 5-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendations. METHODS: Requirements for the app were first defined by researchers and potential end users and prioritized using the MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have) method. Second, a prototype mobile phone app was developed using an agile approach. Third, the prototype app was tested in a randomized controlled pilot trial for impacts on knowledge and intake of fruit and vegetables. Volunteers were randomized to either receive (n=50) or not receive the app (n=44) for 2 or 4 weeks, and fruit and vegetable knowledge, intake, and behavior were assessed at the beginning of the study and after 1 and 2 weeks or after 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. App usage and qualitative feedback were also investigated. All findings then informed the development of a final app. RESULTS: Low knowledge of consumption recommendations centered around portion sizes and the need for variety, and an interactive mobile phone app was considered a suitable tool for improving this knowledge in a practical manner that would be available both at time of consumption and outside of these times. The pilot test revealed improved behavior after 2 weeks compared with baseline in volunteers who received the app, but improvements in knowledge on fruit and vegetable recommendations were found in both groups, and no improvements in fruit and vegetable intakes were found in formal measures. Patterns of app usage and qualitative feedback also suggested a number of modifications. The resultant final app incorporates several behavior change techniques (goal-setting, self-monitoring, and personalized feedback) as well as aiming to improve knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: A novel interactive mobile phone app was successfully developed based on requirements, and when tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial, this app was found to have some impacts on fruit and vegetable outcomes. Although benefits from the app were small, impacts will likely increase as a result of recent modifications. The final SMART 5-A-DAY app is available in the Google Play Store and now needs testing in the target population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02779491; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02779491.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32854/

Source: PubMed

An Interactive Mobile Phone App (SMART 5-A-DAY) for Increasing Knowledge of and Adherence to Fruit and Vegetable Recommendations: Development and Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors: Appleton, K.M., Passmore, D., Burn, I., Pidgeon, H., Nation, P., Boobyer, C. and Jiang, N.

Journal: JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH

Volume: 7

Issue: 11

ISSN: 2291-5222

DOI: 10.2196/14380

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32854/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

AN INTERACTIVE MOBILE PHONE APPLICATION, SMART 5-A-DAY, FOR INCREASING KNOWLEDGE OF AND ADHERNCE TO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE RECOMMENDATIONS: DEVELOPMENT AND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TEST

Authors: Appleton, K., Passmore, D., Burn, I., Pidgeon, H., Nation, P., Boobyer, C. and Jiang, N.

Journal: JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Publisher: JMIR Publications

ISSN: 2291-5222

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32854/

Source: Manual

An Interactive Mobile Phone App (SMART 5-A-DAY) for Increasing Knowledge of and Adherence to Fruit and Vegetable Recommendations: Development and Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Authors: Appleton, K.M., Passmore, D., Burn, I., Pidgeon, H., Nation, P., Boobyer, C. and Jiang, N.

Journal: JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Volume: 7

Issue: 11

Pages: e14380

eISSN: 2291-5222

ISSN: 2291-5222

DOI: 10.2196/14380

Abstract:

Background

Fruit and vegetable consumption is important for health, but many individuals fail to consume adequate amounts for health benefits. Although many individuals are aware of current fruit and vegetable consumption recommendations, research suggests that adherence to these is hampered by low knowledge of the details of these recommendations.

Objective

This paper reports the development and details of a pilot randomized controlled test of a novel interactive mobile phone app for addressing low knowledge of the UK 5-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendations.

Methods

Requirements for the app were first defined by researchers and potential end users and prioritized using the MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have) method. Second, a prototype mobile phone app was developed using an agile approach. Third, the prototype app was tested in a randomized controlled pilot trial for impacts on knowledge and intake of fruit and vegetables. Volunteers were randomized to either receive (n=50) or not receive the app (n=44) for 2 or 4 weeks, and fruit and vegetable knowledge, intake, and behavior were assessed at the beginning of the study and after 1 and 2 weeks or after 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. App usage and qualitative feedback were also investigated. All findings then informed the development of a final app.

Results

Low knowledge of consumption recommendations centered around portion sizes and the need for variety, and an interactive mobile phone app was considered a suitable tool for improving this knowledge in a practical manner that would be available both at time of consumption and outside of these times. The pilot test revealed improved behavior after 2 weeks compared with baseline in volunteers who received the app, but improvements in knowledge on fruit and vegetable recommendations were found in both groups, and no improvements in fruit and vegetable intakes were found in formal measures. Patterns of app usage and qualitative feedback also suggested a number of modifications. The resultant final app incorporates several behavior change techniques (goal-setting, self-monitoring, and personalized feedback) as well as aiming to improve knowledge.

Conclusions

A novel interactive mobile phone app was successfully developed based on requirements, and when tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial, this app was found to have some impacts on fruit and vegetable outcomes. Although benefits from the app were small, impacts will likely increase as a result of recent modifications. The final SMART 5-A-DAY app is available in the Google Play Store and now needs testing in the target population.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02779491; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02779491.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32854/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

An interactive mobile phone application, smart 5-a-day, for increasing knowledge of and adherence to fruit and vegetable recommendations: development and randomized controlled test

Authors: Appleton, K., Passmore, D., Burn, I., Pidgeon, H., Nation, P., Boobyer, C.A. and Jiang, N.

Journal: JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Volume: 7

Issue: 11

ISSN: 2291-5222

Abstract:

Background: Fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption is important for health, but many individuals fail 22 to consume adequate FV for health benefits. While many individuals are aware of current FV 23 consumption recommendations, research suggests that adherence to these recommendations is 24 hampered by low knowledge of the details of these recommendations. 25 Purpose: This paper reports the development and details of a pilot randomized controlled test of a 26 novel interactive mobile phone application (app) for addressing low knowledge of the UK 5 a day FV 27 recommendations. 28 Methods: Requirements for the app were first defined by researchers and potential end users, and 29 prioritised using the MoSCoW method. A prototype smart phone app was then developed using an 30 agile approach. Third, the prototype app was tested in a randomized controlled pilot trial, for 31 impacts on FV knowledge and FV intakes. Volunteers were randomized to either receive (N=50) or 32 not receive the app (N=44) for two or four weeks, and FV knowledge, FV intakes, and FV behaviour 33 were assessed at study start and after 1, 2, and/or 4 weeks. App usage and qualitative feedback 34 were also investigated. All findings then informed the development of a final app. 35 Results: Low knowledge of the FV recommendations centred around portion sizes and the need for 36 variety, and an interactive mobile phone app was considered a suitable tool for improving this 37 knowledge in a practical manner, that would be available both at time of consumption and outside 38 of these times. The pilot test revealed improved FV behaviour after two weeks compared to baseline 39 in volunteers who received the app, but improvements in FV knowledge were found in both groups, 40 and no improvements in FV intake were found in formal measures. Patterns of app usage and 41 qualitative feedback also suggested a number of modifications. The resultant final app incorporates 42 several behaviour change techniques (goal-setting, self-monitoring, personalised feedback), as well 43 as aiming to improve knowledge. 44 Conclusions: A novel interactive mobile phone app was successfully developed based on 45 requirements, and when tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial, this app was found to have 46 some impacts on FV outcomes. While benefits from the app were small, impacts will likely increase 47 as a result of recent modifications. The final SMART 5-A-DAY app is available in the Google Play Store 48 and now needs testing in the target population.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/32854/

Source: BURO EPrints