A Co-Designed, Culturally-Tailored mHealth Tool to Support Healthy Lifestyles in M?ori and Pasifika Communities in New Zealand: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Verbiest Marjolein , Borrell Suaree , Dalhousie Sally , Tupa'i-Firestone Ridvan , Funaki Tevita , Goodwin Deborah , Grey Jacqueline , Henry Akarere , Hughes Emily , Humphrey Gayle , Jiang Yannan , Jull Andrew , Pekepo Crystal , Schumacher Jodie , Te Morenga Lisa , Tunks Megan , Vano Mereaumate , Whittaker Robyn , Ni Mhurchu Cliona 
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

New Zealand urgently requires scalable, effective, behavior change programs to support healthy lifestyles that are tailored to the needs and lived contexts of Māori and Pasifika communities.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study is to determine the effects of a co-designed, culturally tailored, lifestyle support mHealth tool (the OL@-OR@ mobile phone app and website) on key risk factors and behaviors associated with an increased risk of noncommunicable disease (diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) compared with a control condition.

METHODS

A 12-week, community-based, two-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial will be conducted across New Zealand from January to December 2018. Participants (target N=1280; 64 clusters: 32 Māori, 32 Pasifika; 32 clusters per arm; 20 participants per cluster) will be individuals aged ≥18 years who identify with either Māori or Pasifika ethnicity, live in New Zealand, are interested in improving their health and wellbeing or making lifestyle changes, and have regular access to a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or computer and to the internet. Clusters will be identified by community coordinators and randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to either the full OL@-OR@ tool or a control version of the app (data collection only plus a weekly notification), stratified by geographic location (Auckland or Waikato) for Pasifika clusters and by region (rural, urban, or provincial) for Māori clusters. All participants will provide self-reported data at baseline and at 4- and 12-weeks postrandomization. The primary outcome is adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors measured using a self-reported composite health behavior score at 12 weeks that assesses smoking behavior, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol intake, and physical activity. Secondary outcomes include self-reported body weight, holistic health and wellbeing status, medication use, and recorded engagement with the OL@-OR@ tool.

RESULTS

Trial recruitment opened in January 2018 and will close in July 2018. Trial findings are expected to be available early in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, there are no scalable, evidence-based tools to support Māori or Pasifika individuals who want to improve their eating habits, lose weight, or be more active. This wait-list controlled, cluster-randomized trial will assess the effectiveness of a co-designed, culturally tailored mHealth tool in supporting healthy lifestyles.

CLINICALTRIAL

Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12617001484336; http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12617001484336.aspx (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/71DX9BsJb)

REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER

RR1-10.2196/10789