Feasibility of MyHealthAvatar in Type 2 diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the feasibility of the MyHealthAvatar mobile phone application for reducing sitting behaviour and improving blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes
IRAS ID
217106
Contact name
Daniel Bailey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bedfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 22 days
Research summary
The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a public health concern with prevalence rates and costs to the economy increasing rapidly in the UK (Hex et al., 2012).. Medication expenditure for diabetes alone is greater than £869 million a year equating to 10% of the NHS total annual medication expenditure (Diabetes UK, 2015). Poor glycaemic control in T2D increases risk of cardiovascular disease, amputation (from peripheral vascular disease) and microvascular disease (primarily retinal photocoagulation) (Stratton et al., 2000). This highlights the necessity to identify cost-effective interventions to reduce the health and economic burden of T2D.
This study will assess the feasibility of using the mobile phone application, MyHealthAvatar, in reducing prolonged sedentary behaviour and improving glucose control in T2D. MyHealthAvatar is a mobile phone application system that serves as a suite for self-monitoring of health and lifestyle data. Capability, opportunity and motivation (COM-B) to reduce prolonged sedentary behaviour will be assessed in addition to effects on glucose levels.
Potential participants will be required to meet an inclusion criterion in order to be deemed eligible to take part in the study. They must be over the age of 18, have T2D and be in the early stage (diet and exercise intervention or metformin only) of treatment.
Participants will be randomly assigned to either 1) control group or 2) intervention group. The intervention group will use the mobile phone app in addition to receiving detailed information and support in learning to use the app and ongoing support messages throughout the intervention. The intervention will be 8 weeks in duration. A number of psychological and physiological health markers will be measured pre and post intervention to compare potential effectiveness of the intervention.
All measurements will be taken at the University of Bedfordshire Sport and Exercise Science Laboratories.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0070
Date of REC Opinion
18 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion