A Digital Approach to Improving Carbohydrate Periodisation Behaviours in Athlete: SMART+ Study
- Conditions
- Diet Habit
- Registration Number
- NCT04487015
- Lead Sponsor
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Brief Summary
The carbohydrate periodisation framework is a widely accepted nutritional intervention strategy in the field of sports nutrition. However, despite the validity of this approach, it is reported that athletes find it difficult to stick to this behaviour and that the support required is highly personalised, and as a result time consuming for the coach. Prior research has suggested that a digital environment can deliver better personalised dietary interventions to better support athletes.
The overall purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a digital approach (a menu planner app with coach support), and gain understanding on the strategy to implement coach support according to app engagement in the digital approach to improve dietary carbohydrate periodisation behaviours in athletes.
- Detailed Description
The study is conducted in two consecutive parts.
For part one, to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the digital approach, participants are recruited to use the app for 6 weeks and were given coach support, where coaches message (MesC) and call (ad-hoc Call) and the participants. A control group (no app) is also separately recruited to compare with the menu planner group.
For part two, to gain better understanding on the strategy to implement coach support with the menu planner app according to app engagement, a pilot multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design is conducted. Participants are equally randomised to either receive a stringent engagement criteria strategy or relaxed adherence criteria strategy. A stringent engagement criteria strategy requires the user to use the app at least twice a week at stage 1, and at least 3 times a week at stage 2 to be considered a responder at stage 1 and stage 2 (R1 and R2).
A relaxed engagement criteria strategy requires the user to use the app at least once a week in week 1 of using the app at stage 1, and at least 2 times a week at stage 2, to be considered a responder at stage 1 and stage 2 (R1 and R2). Non-responders for both criteria strategies at stage 1 and 2 (NR1 and NR2) will be re-randomised to either continue with the app only or additional coach support (MesC + ad-hoc Call).
Timeline wise,
Stage 1: Participants will first receive app for 1 week and will be categorised as responder (R1) or non-responders (NR1) at the end of the 1 week.
Stage 2: Responders to stage 1 (R1) will continue with the menu planner for 1 week. Non-responders to stage 1 (NR1) will either continue with the menu planner or receive additional coach support (MesC + ad-hoc Call) for 1 week. Participants are categorised again as responder (R2) or non-responders (NR2) at the end of the week.
Stage 3: Responders to stage 2 (R2) will only have menu planner for 2 weeks. Non-responders to stage 2 (NR2) will either have menu planner only or receive/continue with additional coach support (MesC + ad-hoc Call) for 2 weeks.
The SMART trial will take a total of 4 weeks to complete and have up to two randomisation points per participant. All re-randomisations are done at 1:1 allocation ratio.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 1000
- Have access to a personal smart phone.
- An elite or training athlete.
- Have a performance related weight loss or weight maintenance physical goal.
- Do not have or have not have a history of eating disorders or disordered eating.
- Participants with a medically diagnosed history of eating disorders or disordered eating will be asked to self-exclude from the study.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SEQUENTIAL
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Success rates of carbohydrate periodisation behaviour at week 4, 6 At week 6 (for part I of study) and week 4 (part II of study) A binary success of whether dietary periodisation behaviour has improved in the participant measured by the "periodisation behaviour questionnaire" (in the process of submitting the paper on validation of questionnaire). The scale is 1- does not periodise, 2-periodises energy but not carbohydrate, and 3-periodises both. Higher score indicates better periodisation behaviour. Only score of 3 is considered success.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in dietary self-efficacy from baseline to week 4, 6 At baseline (week 0) and at week 6 (for part I of study) and week 4 (part II of study) The dietary self-efficacy will be assessed using a self-efficacy scale. This questionnaire have been validated in the general population (Stich, Knauper and Tint, 2009). The scale is a 5-point scale from 1 for not confident at all, to 5 for very confident. Higher score indicates higher self-efficacy.
Change in body weight from baseline to week 4,6 Baseline(week 0) and at week 6 (for part I of study) and week 4 (part II of study) Self-reported weight (in kg/lbs) collected at baseline and at week 6 (for part I of study) and week 4 (part II of study)
Change in beliefs about consequences from baseline to week 4, 6. At baseline (week 0) and at week 6 (for part I of study) and week 4 (part II of study) The beliefs about consequences scale has not yet been validated but has been adapted from previous research on beliefs about capabilities by Wallin, Boström and Gustavsson (2012). The scale is a 5-point sale from 1- not at all to 5- extremely. Higher scores indicate higher beliefs about consequences.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Liverpool John Moores University
🇬🇧Liverpool, United Kingdom
Liverpool John Moores University🇬🇧Liverpool, United KingdomDavid Dunne, PGDipContact+44 7798872877