Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6686-3891
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6332-215X
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5046-4757
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Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2019
College/Unit
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department/Program/Center
Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences
Abstract
Abstract: West Virginia is a rural state with an aging population that may experience barriers to accessing nutritional and lifestyle counseling. This study examined feasibility of an online personalized nutrition tracking application, Good Measures (GM), with patients at seven health care clinics throughout the state. Fourteen healthcare providers and 64 patients 18 years or older with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 and access to the Internet were recruited for this 12-week feasibility study. Patient participants logged meals and exercise into the GM application via smart phone, tablet, or computer and virtually engaged with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in one-on-one sessions. The primary endpoint was to examine feasibility of the program by usage of the application and feedback questions regarding the benefits and challenges of the application. Participants were predominately white (92%) and female (76%). Minimal improvements in weight and systolic blood pressure were found. Participant attitude survey data declined from 4-weeks to 12-weeks of the intervention. Interestingly though, patients in a rural clinic had lesser declines in attitudes than peri-urban participants. Qualitative feedback data identified participants predominately had a positive overall feeling toward the approach. Participants expressed favorability of RDN access, the variety of foods, but did give suggestions for in-person meetings and more updating of the application. Implementing a technology approach to nutrition in rural areas of West Virginia using a mobile application with RDN access may be one strategy to address public health issues such as obesity.
Digital Commons Citation
Olfert, Melissa D.; Barr, Makenzie L.; Hagedorn, Rebecca L.; Long, Dustin M.; Haggerty, Treah S.; Weimer, Mathew; Golden, Joseph; Maurer, Mary Ann; Cochran, Jill D.; Hendershot, Tracy; Whanger, Stacey L.; Mason, Jay D.; and Hodder, Sally L., "Feasibility of a mHealth Approach to Nutrition Counseling in an Appalachian State" (2019). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 1395.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/1395
Source Citation
Olfert, Barr, Hagedorn, Long, Haggerty, Weimer, Golden, Maurer, Cochran, Hendershot, Whanger, Mason, & Hodder. (2019). Feasibility of a mHealth Approach to Nutrition Counseling in an Appalachian State. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 9(4), 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm9040050
Comments
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).