A Smartphone-based Intervention for Diabetes Prevention in Overweight Chinese Adults With Pre-diabetes

NCT ID: NCT04875780

Last Updated: 2021-10-25

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

282 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-06-01

Study Completion Date

2024-05-31

Brief Summary

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Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a serious chronic condition and one of the world's fastest growing health problems. The onset of T2DM is gradual, with most individuals progressing through a state of pre-diabetes, which provides an important window of opportunity for the prevention of T2DM and its complications. This project aims to translate the evidence-based diabetes prevention strategies into community setting and utilize mobile health technology to reduce diabetes risks in Hong Kong.

Detailed Description

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Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a major global health issue and the cost to community is high and escalating. The Asia-Pacific region carries a high disease burden, with more than 60% of the global diabetic population living in Asian region. The onset of T2DM is gradual, with most individuals progressing through a state of pre-diabetes. A National Survey conducted in China in 2010 revealed that 50.1% of people aged 18 or older have pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes, defined as having impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or elevated glycated haemoglobulin (HbA1C) , are at increased risk of developing T2DM and its associated complications, such as heart diseases and retinopathy, which can develop even in the absence of progression to overt T2DM. Hence, it is essential that people with pre-diabetes are targeted for early intervention to prevent T2DM and related complications.

Obesity is a major risk factor for developing T2DM. International trials demonstrate that lifestyle interventions (which includes diet, physical activity and behavioural modification components) targeting at least 5% weight loss in individuals with pre-diabetes can reduce 3-year diabetes incidence by 58%. Growing evidence suggests that smartphones may be a promising platform for delivery of behavioural lifestyle intervention to achieve weight loss.

This project aims to translate the evidence-based diabetes prevention strategies into community setting and utilize mobile health technology to reduce diabetes risks in Hong Kong.

Conditions

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Pre-diabetes

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

It is a 12-month 3-arm randomised controlled trial, RCT (the digital diabetes prevention app group, the digital weight loss tracking app group, and the wait-list usual care group). The digital diabetes prevention app group will receive these intervention components: web-based diabetes prevention curriculum, virtual social group support, goal setting and self-monitoring via the smartphone app. The digital weight loss tracking group will receive digital tracking of weight loss, diet and physical activity and virtual social support group function (mimicking the publically available weight loss apps), but without the web-based diabetes prevention curriculum.

The wait-list usual care group will receive usual care in the form of an annual review and blood test, together with general lifestyle advice at our NGO collaborator's (UCN) community clinics.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
All outcome assessors will be blinded to group allocation

Study Groups

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Digital diabetes prevention app intervention

Participants will receive web-based diabetes prevention curriculum, virtual social group support and digital tracking via the smartphone app.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Digital diabetes prevention app intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

16-week core program consisting of 16 online weekly interactive lessons on diet and physical activity for weight loss. After the completion of the core program, participant can proceed to the 36-week post-core phase. The post-core program provides 8 monthly lessons focusing on maintaining lifestyle habits and weight loss.

Participants will be guided to use the smartphone app for goal setting and self-monitoring of diet, physical activity and weight loss.

Participants will be demographically matched into online groups of 10-12 persons. Online group discussion board will be set up for participants to discuss goals, share progress and provide supports to each other.

Digital weight loss tracking app intervention

Participants will receive the same intervention as the digital diabetes prevention curriculum app group except the web-based diabetes prevention curriculum.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Digital weight loss tracking app intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

All participants will be provided the same smartphone app as the intervention group for goal setting and self-monitoring of diet, physical activity and weight loss.

Participants will be demographically matched into online groups of 10-12 person. Online group discussion board will be set up for participants to discuss goals, share progress and provide supports to each other.

Wait-list control (usual care)

Participants will receive usual care in the form of an annual review and blood test, together with general lifestyle advice.

Group Type OTHER

Wait-list control (usual care)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the control group will be invited to have an annual review and blood test at baseline, 4 and 12 months and received general lifestyle advices from a registered nurse at a community clinic.

Interventions

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Digital diabetes prevention app intervention

16-week core program consisting of 16 online weekly interactive lessons on diet and physical activity for weight loss. After the completion of the core program, participant can proceed to the 36-week post-core phase. The post-core program provides 8 monthly lessons focusing on maintaining lifestyle habits and weight loss.

Participants will be guided to use the smartphone app for goal setting and self-monitoring of diet, physical activity and weight loss.

Participants will be demographically matched into online groups of 10-12 persons. Online group discussion board will be set up for participants to discuss goals, share progress and provide supports to each other.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Digital weight loss tracking app intervention

All participants will be provided the same smartphone app as the intervention group for goal setting and self-monitoring of diet, physical activity and weight loss.

Participants will be demographically matched into online groups of 10-12 person. Online group discussion board will be set up for participants to discuss goals, share progress and provide supports to each other.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Wait-list control (usual care)

Participants in the control group will be invited to have an annual review and blood test at baseline, 4 and 12 months and received general lifestyle advices from a registered nurse at a community clinic.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Web-based diabetes prevention curriculum Goal setting and self-monitoring Virtual social support group Goal setting and self-monitoring Virtual social support group

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Individuals aged 40 - 60 years old
* Overweight (BMI ≥ 23kg/m2) or obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2)
* With at least one blood test result showing IGT (7.8-11.0 mmol/L after a two-hour glucose tolerance test), IFG (fasting glucose 5.6 - 6.9 mmol/L) or impaired HbA1c 5.7% - 6.4%
* Owns a smartphone
* Able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese.

Exclusion Criteria

* With current or clinical history of T2DM, or with co-morbid conditions that may limit participation in the study, such as recent history of an acute cardiovascular event, uncontrolled hypertension, cancer or major psychiatric or cognitive problems
* Already participating in a weight loss programme
* Receiving drug treatment for pre-diabetes or long-term use of medicines known to influence glucose metabolism (e.g. corticosteroids)
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr. Mandy M. Ho

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Dr Mandy Ho

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG

Locations

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The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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Dr Mandy Ho

Role: CONTACT

(+852)39176973

Facility Contacts

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Mandy Ho, PhD

Role: primary

(+852) 39176973

References

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Reference Type BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

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HMRF03180248

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id