Incorporating mobile health (mhealth) technology for monitoring physical activity and dietary intake into a community-based health and needs assessment: The Washington D.C. Cardiovascular Health and Needs Assessment

Authors

• LR Yinging
• JN Saygbe
• GR Wallen
• AT Brooks
• M Peters-Lawrence
• JL Henry
• VM Mitchell
• DM Sampson
• TD Johnson
• KL Wiley Jr
• AP Graham
• LA Graham
• AJ Johnson
• TM Powell-Wiley

Abstract

Health and needs assessments are commonly used in resource-limited communities to identify targets and tailor community-based interventions for improving cardiovascular health. Little is known about incorporating mHealth technology to measure physical activity (PA) and dietary intake in community-based health and needs assessments. The community-based pilot study (NCT: NCT01927783) evaluates cardiovascular health factors and tests mHealth tools that can be used to improve PA and dietary intake in a tailored intervention in resource-limited Washington D.C. wards. Participants (n=100) underwent a day-long assessment at one of four community churches. Cardiovascular health factors (dietary intake, PA, blood glucose, lipids, body composition, blood pressure) were measured, and each participant received a PA-monitoring wristband, access to a secure online account, and instructional training on device and account usage. A subset received training on a mobile device-based food record to test its feasibility as a dietary assessment tool. Participants were encouraged to use the PA monitor and the web-based account for at least one month. Outcomes include methods developed for training participants of varying technological literacy on mHealth device usage at each event. Other outcomes are methods developed to identify and troubleshoot difficulties in collecting PA data based on Wi-Fi access, technological literacy, or technological issues with the PA-monitoring system. Study data demonstrate that use of these methods led 81% of participants (n=81) to interact with the PA-monitoring system at least once during the 30-day period. Additional findings will indicate ways in which mHealth technology can be incorporated into a community-based cardiovascular health and needs assessment.

Scientific Focus Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences

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