DASH Mobile: Development of a Novel Mobile Platform for Enabling Collaborative Behavioral Hypertension Control
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Abstract
Background
The DASH diet is ranked #1 by the influential US News and World Report and has enormous respect as an evidence-based behavioral hypertension reduction program. Doctors throughout the US recommend it to their patients on a daily basis and spend precious time reviewing its common sense principles. Though proven effective in research studies, translating this clinical trial based evidence into real world clinical benefit and reliable patient behavior change has to date been challenging. Mobile delivery of behavior change interventions like DASH offers a unique technological platform for delivering behavioral hypertension reduction. The mobile platform can be used to track and feedback behavioral progress and contextual messages to the hypertensive patient. Combined with web based expert coaching – the complementary systems represent a promising modality translating the proven hypertension reduction benefits of DASH to the average hypertensive patient.
Objective
To develop and pilot test a novel behavioral hypertension reduction program based on DASH and leveraging the capabilities of a mobile phone platform combined with web-based expert coaching.
Methods
The development of DASH mobile is a collaborative and iterative process. A unique multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, computer scientists and designers was assembled to generate a prototype. The app software was prototyped in Android and iPhone operating systems and commercial Bluetooth capable blood pressure monitors, pedometers and weight scales were integrated into the software. A custom library of short video clips demonstrating key principles of the DASH diet and how to use the app were also created. A web-based expert coaching system was also developed that provides trained behavioral hypertension control coaches a portal into the patient’s mobile phone based behavioral data as well as a robust personal communications function. Usability testing will be conducted with several rounds of hypertensive patients with iterative refinement cycles.
Results
DASH mobile has been successfully developed into an integrated mobile phone based behavioral hypertension control program. It encompasses wireless data collection and feedback of blood pressure, weight and steps along with a simple DASH specific dietary self-report interface. It also delivers a library of videos to train users in the DASH concepts and allows for a web-based expert coach to guide and motivate users of the program. The system is currently in usability testing with a pilot efficacy study set to begin summer 2013.
Conclusions
The DASH mobile system is a unique platform that provides hypertensive patients a simple, wireless system for tracking relevant behavioral data, training in the DASH concepts and interacting with a web-based coach. The system has enormous potential to help lower blood pressure by enabling patients to follow DASH. Ultimately, the envisioned future of DASH mobile is a clinical tool to support behavior change, prescribed and monitored by a clinician, which extends the reach of hypertension management outside of the office and into a patient’s daily life.
The DASH diet is ranked #1 by the influential US News and World Report and has enormous respect as an evidence-based behavioral hypertension reduction program. Doctors throughout the US recommend it to their patients on a daily basis and spend precious time reviewing its common sense principles. Though proven effective in research studies, translating this clinical trial based evidence into real world clinical benefit and reliable patient behavior change has to date been challenging. Mobile delivery of behavior change interventions like DASH offers a unique technological platform for delivering behavioral hypertension reduction. The mobile platform can be used to track and feedback behavioral progress and contextual messages to the hypertensive patient. Combined with web based expert coaching – the complementary systems represent a promising modality translating the proven hypertension reduction benefits of DASH to the average hypertensive patient.
Objective
To develop and pilot test a novel behavioral hypertension reduction program based on DASH and leveraging the capabilities of a mobile phone platform combined with web-based expert coaching.
Methods
The development of DASH mobile is a collaborative and iterative process. A unique multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, computer scientists and designers was assembled to generate a prototype. The app software was prototyped in Android and iPhone operating systems and commercial Bluetooth capable blood pressure monitors, pedometers and weight scales were integrated into the software. A custom library of short video clips demonstrating key principles of the DASH diet and how to use the app were also created. A web-based expert coaching system was also developed that provides trained behavioral hypertension control coaches a portal into the patient’s mobile phone based behavioral data as well as a robust personal communications function. Usability testing will be conducted with several rounds of hypertensive patients with iterative refinement cycles.
Results
DASH mobile has been successfully developed into an integrated mobile phone based behavioral hypertension control program. It encompasses wireless data collection and feedback of blood pressure, weight and steps along with a simple DASH specific dietary self-report interface. It also delivers a library of videos to train users in the DASH concepts and allows for a web-based expert coach to guide and motivate users of the program. The system is currently in usability testing with a pilot efficacy study set to begin summer 2013.
Conclusions
The DASH mobile system is a unique platform that provides hypertensive patients a simple, wireless system for tracking relevant behavioral data, training in the DASH concepts and interacting with a web-based coach. The system has enormous potential to help lower blood pressure by enabling patients to follow DASH. Ultimately, the envisioned future of DASH mobile is a clinical tool to support behavior change, prescribed and monitored by a clinician, which extends the reach of hypertension management outside of the office and into a patient’s daily life.
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