Development of DASH Mobile: A Mobile-Based Behavioral Change Intervention for the Management of Hypertension
|
If you are the presenter of this abstract (or if you cite this abstract in a talk or on a poster), please show the QR code in your slide or poster (QR code contains this URL). |
Abstract
Background:
Unhealthy behaviors underlie many prevalent chronic diseases, including obesity and cardiovascular disease. Research shows that behavioral change interventions promoting healthy diets and exercise can be effective; in particular, lifestyle interventions for hypertension have been found effective in Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and subsequent programs, PREMIER and POWER. However, translating rigid research protocols into a patient’s daily behavioral patterns is challenging. Mobile delivery of behavior change interventions offers an opportunity to leverage a ubiquitous technology to impact on health outcomes. DASH mobile is an ongoing application development project grounded in the evidence of the DASH, PREMIER, and POWER studies.
Objective:
To design and pilot test a behavioral intervention incorporating the evidence-based DASH diet using a mobile phone platform.
Methods:
DASH mobile allows patients to self-manage high blood pressure through self-monitoring, personalized feedback, and educational training. A user interface is being developed to encourage DASH concordant food choices and discourage less healthy options. Wireless devices sync with the app to collect patient data including blood pressure, weight, and activity level, and will display this information for rapid feedback. We are developing multimedia content, which teaches and trains users on the core principles of the DASH diet. Furthermore, a health coach will be incorporated into the intervention, engaging in synchronous and asynchronous counseling.
Results:
The development process has been characterized by several challenges including assembling a multidisciplinary team, supporting an innovative technology-based project through traditional academic funding sources, choosing the type of software and hardware to employ, integrating commercial products in a clinical study, and managing security of patient data. Completion of the prototype will be followed by usability testing and then a pilot clinical trial. Future functionalities of this app include incorporating alerts, advanced educational content, motivational tools, and social networking. Ultimately, the envisioned future of DASH mobile is a clinical tool to support behavior change, prescribed by a physician, which extends the reach of hypertension management outside of the office and into a patient’s daily life.
Conclusions:
A mobile platform offers the opportunity to employ an evidence-based behavioral intervention for the management of hypertension.
Unhealthy behaviors underlie many prevalent chronic diseases, including obesity and cardiovascular disease. Research shows that behavioral change interventions promoting healthy diets and exercise can be effective; in particular, lifestyle interventions for hypertension have been found effective in Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and subsequent programs, PREMIER and POWER. However, translating rigid research protocols into a patient’s daily behavioral patterns is challenging. Mobile delivery of behavior change interventions offers an opportunity to leverage a ubiquitous technology to impact on health outcomes. DASH mobile is an ongoing application development project grounded in the evidence of the DASH, PREMIER, and POWER studies.
Objective:
To design and pilot test a behavioral intervention incorporating the evidence-based DASH diet using a mobile phone platform.
Methods:
DASH mobile allows patients to self-manage high blood pressure through self-monitoring, personalized feedback, and educational training. A user interface is being developed to encourage DASH concordant food choices and discourage less healthy options. Wireless devices sync with the app to collect patient data including blood pressure, weight, and activity level, and will display this information for rapid feedback. We are developing multimedia content, which teaches and trains users on the core principles of the DASH diet. Furthermore, a health coach will be incorporated into the intervention, engaging in synchronous and asynchronous counseling.
Results:
The development process has been characterized by several challenges including assembling a multidisciplinary team, supporting an innovative technology-based project through traditional academic funding sources, choosing the type of software and hardware to employ, integrating commercial products in a clinical study, and managing security of patient data. Completion of the prototype will be followed by usability testing and then a pilot clinical trial. Future functionalities of this app include incorporating alerts, advanced educational content, motivational tools, and social networking. Ultimately, the envisioned future of DASH mobile is a clinical tool to support behavior change, prescribed by a physician, which extends the reach of hypertension management outside of the office and into a patient’s daily life.
Conclusions:
A mobile platform offers the opportunity to employ an evidence-based behavioral intervention for the management of hypertension.
Medicine 2.0® is happy to support and promote other conferences and workshops in this area. Contact us to produce, disseminate and promote your conference or workshop under this label and in this event series. In addition, we are always looking for hosts of future World Congresses. Medicine 2.0® is a registered trademark of JMIR Publications Inc., the leading academic ehealth publisher.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.