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NUYou:mHealth Intervention to Preserve and Promote Ideal Cardiovascular Health

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Cardiovascular Disease
Interventions
Behavioral: Mobile Health Application
Behavioral: Environmental Cues
Behavioral: Social Support
Behavioral: Educational Materials
Registration Number
NCT02496728
Lead Sponsor
Northwestern University
Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to investigate the preservation or promotion of health in students during the college years.

Detailed Description

Freshman college students at Northwestern University will be cluster randomized to two groups based on their dorm. The intervention for one group will target smoking, physical activity, BMI and consumption of fruits and vegetables. The intervention in the second group will target traveling behavior, sexual risk behaviors, sunscreen use and hydration. Baseline health and lifestyle measures will be assessed for each participant prior to intervention. Health assessments will measure height, weight, fasting glucose, total cholesterol and carbon monoxide. The lifestyle measure will ask questions about physical activity, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, safe sex practices, driving habits, and sunscreen use. These same measures will be repeated during the fall of the students' sophomore and junior years.

Participants will be given a mobile application and encouraged to track some behaviors. In addition, participants will be asked to answer weekly questions regarding health behaviors.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
302
Inclusion Criteria
  • Freshman at Northwestern University in the fall of 2015
  • Live on campus
  • Read, write and speak English
  • Own an Iphone or Android smart phone
Read More
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnant or trying to become pregnant
  • Established cardiovascular disease
  • Unstable psychiatric or medical condition
Read More

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cardiovascular HealthEnvironmental CuesParticipants will be given the results of their health assessment and feedback regarding their health behaviors and overall health. Recommendations for change will be given if warranted. Participants will download the study's mobile health application on their smartphone. They will then be asked to report once a week about their health behaviors on the application. Participants will also be asked to self-monitor health behaviors that are not already at ideal levels using the study application (environmental cues). Participants will be asked to join a secret Facebook group where informational materials will be posted, participants can post about study health behaviors and social interaction around health behaviors can occur (social support and environmental cues).
Cardiovascular HealthEducational MaterialsParticipants will be given the results of their health assessment and feedback regarding their health behaviors and overall health. Recommendations for change will be given if warranted. Participants will download the study's mobile health application on their smartphone. They will then be asked to report once a week about their health behaviors on the application. Participants will also be asked to self-monitor health behaviors that are not already at ideal levels using the study application (environmental cues). Participants will be asked to join a secret Facebook group where informational materials will be posted, participants can post about study health behaviors and social interaction around health behaviors can occur (social support and environmental cues).
Whole HealthEnvironmental CuesParticipants will be given the results of their health assessment. They will then receive educational materials about sunscreen use, safe sex, hydration and vehicular safety. Participants will download the study's mobile health application on their smartphone. They will then be asked to report once a week about their health behaviors on the application. Participants will also be asked to self-monitor how much water they drink using the study application. Participants will be asked to join a secret Facebook group where informational materials will be posted, they can post about study health behaviors and social interaction around health behaviors can occur (social support and environmental cues).
Whole HealthSocial SupportParticipants will be given the results of their health assessment. They will then receive educational materials about sunscreen use, safe sex, hydration and vehicular safety. Participants will download the study's mobile health application on their smartphone. They will then be asked to report once a week about their health behaviors on the application. Participants will also be asked to self-monitor how much water they drink using the study application. Participants will be asked to join a secret Facebook group where informational materials will be posted, they can post about study health behaviors and social interaction around health behaviors can occur (social support and environmental cues).
Cardiovascular HealthSocial SupportParticipants will be given the results of their health assessment and feedback regarding their health behaviors and overall health. Recommendations for change will be given if warranted. Participants will download the study's mobile health application on their smartphone. They will then be asked to report once a week about their health behaviors on the application. Participants will also be asked to self-monitor health behaviors that are not already at ideal levels using the study application (environmental cues). Participants will be asked to join a secret Facebook group where informational materials will be posted, participants can post about study health behaviors and social interaction around health behaviors can occur (social support and environmental cues).
Whole HealthMobile Health ApplicationParticipants will be given the results of their health assessment. They will then receive educational materials about sunscreen use, safe sex, hydration and vehicular safety. Participants will download the study's mobile health application on their smartphone. They will then be asked to report once a week about their health behaviors on the application. Participants will also be asked to self-monitor how much water they drink using the study application. Participants will be asked to join a secret Facebook group where informational materials will be posted, they can post about study health behaviors and social interaction around health behaviors can occur (social support and environmental cues).
Cardiovascular HealthMobile Health ApplicationParticipants will be given the results of their health assessment and feedback regarding their health behaviors and overall health. Recommendations for change will be given if warranted. Participants will download the study's mobile health application on their smartphone. They will then be asked to report once a week about their health behaviors on the application. Participants will also be asked to self-monitor health behaviors that are not already at ideal levels using the study application (environmental cues). Participants will be asked to join a secret Facebook group where informational materials will be posted, participants can post about study health behaviors and social interaction around health behaviors can occur (social support and environmental cues).
Whole HealthEducational MaterialsParticipants will be given the results of their health assessment. They will then receive educational materials about sunscreen use, safe sex, hydration and vehicular safety. Participants will download the study's mobile health application on their smartphone. They will then be asked to report once a week about their health behaviors on the application. Participants will also be asked to self-monitor how much water they drink using the study application. Participants will be asked to join a secret Facebook group where informational materials will be posted, they can post about study health behaviors and social interaction around health behaviors can occur (social support and environmental cues).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
American Heart Association MyLifeCheck (Simple 7) score as a measure of cardiovascular health2 years

Participant's Simple 7 score is the sum of 7 cardiovascular health metrics attained at ideal levels as defined by American Heart Association. 1) physically active - Exercising at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. 2) Good diet quality - Eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, at least 3 servings of whole grain, and no more than 16 oz. of soda per day, rarely or never eats high sodium foods or processed meats. 3) nonsmoking - nonsmoker for at least a year. 4) not overweight - BMI \< 25 kg/m2. 5) normoglycemic - fasting glucose \< 100 mg/dl. 6) not hypercholesterolemic : total Cholesterol \< 200 mg/dl. 7) not hypertensive. Blood Pressure \<120/\<80.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Northwestern University

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

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