Real-time social support through a mobile virtual community to improve healthy behavior in overweight and sedentary adults: a focus group analysis.
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Date
2011-07-14
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus can be prevented or delayed by lifestyle changes Communication technologies such as a mobile phone can be used as a means of delivering these lifestyle changes OBJECTIVES The purposes of this analysis were to explore applicability of potential components of a mobile phone based healthy lifestyle program and to understand motivators and barriers to continued engagement in a mobile phone healthy lifestyle program METHODS We conducted 6 focus groups 4 female and 2 male groups in May and June 2010 with 35 focus group participants The qualitative data were analyzed by 3 researchers using a qualitative description method in an ATLAS ti software program Inclusion criteria for enrollment in a focus group were as follows 1 being aged from 30 to 69 years 2 speaking and reading English 3 having a sedentary lifestyle at work or during leisure time screened by the Brief Physical Activity Survey questionnaire and 4 having a body mass index BMI 25 kg m 2 Asian 23 kg m 2 based on self reported weight and height or 5 having a self reported prediabetic condition RESULTS The mean age was 51 SD 10 6 years 54 n 19 were white 71 n 25 used a mobile phone at least once a week during the last month prior to the study enrollment and mean BMI was 32 5 SD 6 5 kg m 2 In the qualitative analyses the following 4 major themes and their subthemes emerged 1 real time social support real time peer support from participants who are similarly engaged in a diet or physical activity program and professional support from health care providers or a researcher 2 tailoring of mobile phone programs 3 self monitoring and motivation and 4 potential barriers and sustainability of the program fear of failing age and mobile technologies and loss of interest over time CONCLUSIONS Participants from a wide range of age and racial groups expressed interest in a mobile phone based lifestyle program Such a program that incorporates the themes that we identified may be able to help motivate participants to increase their physical activity and to improve their diet
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Keywords
Adult, Client, Prototype, Functionality, Individual based, Obesity, Preventive, Health education or promotion, Treatment adherence, Internet, Chat / Discussion Community