Using Technologies to Promote HEalthy Lifestyles in Adolescents With Intellectual Disabilities
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age4-30
SponsorUniversity of Seville
About this trial
IDHEApp will implement various educational technology tools and work with the families, teachers and caregivers to increase physical activity (PA) and improve healthy eating. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the use of innovative digital technology can contribute not just to distance learning but also to support families and students in remote. However, both healthy habits and technologies are insufficiently addressed in the population with IDD. These needs are in line with the following objectives of the Erasmus+ programme: a) Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport; b) Addressing digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity, and c) Encouraging the participation in sport and physical activity.
Educators will find innovative possibilities and the right instruments that will enable them to fulfil their potential through innovative online education \& learning \& training skills module for lifestyle promotion and others available on the app. Furthermore, mentors and others health professionals (e.g., nursing etc.) will be equipped with knowledge and skills on how to use the app to teach practical skills for PA enhancement in an evidence-based way. Consequently, this project will contribute to \[specific objectives - SO\]:
\- Raise awareness of the importance of healthy and active living among young Europeans with intellectual disabilities.
Different workshops and bigger events (i.e., international conference), together with the involvement of numerous participants from the institutions of this consortium will be ensured. Further, a sensitized community will participate through the social networks and the website itself, in the proposed activities.
\- Provide digital resources and tools to the partner entities of the exchange to improve lifestyle of young people with intellectual disabilities.
Best Practices to provide high quality, inclusive digital health education with the best educational technology tools and methodology. A website, a mobile app and different electronic guidelines will be delivered.
\- Analyze the current state of use and acceptance of technologies as support in the management of health in adolescent with intellectual disabilities.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Diagnosis of intellectual disability
Being able to follow basic instructions
Age between 4-30 years old
Disqualifiers
presence of severe sensory or motor impairments
medical conditions that contraindicated moderate physical activity
unable to access an smartphone during the intervention
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
mHealth
BehavioralThe intervention was carried out over a period of 8 consecutive weeks and was delivered through a mobile application specifically developed for this project, called IDHEApp, which incorporated gamification elements to enhance user engagement and motivation. Participants in the experimental group received a structured mHealth-based program aimed at promoting healthier behaviors in three primary domains: physical activity, sedentary behavior reduction, and dietary improvement. Objective data on physical activity and sedentary behavior were collected using a smartwatch device (Fitbit Versa 3), which was worn by all participants in both the experimental and control groups throughout the study. However, only participants in the experimental group received a daily personalized behavioral challenge targeting one of the following domains: 1. Increasing physical activity (e.g., "Walk an additional 1,000 steps today"); 2. Reducing sedentary behavior (e.g., "Stand up and move for at least 5 minut
Treatment groups
60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Lifestyle interventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: ControlNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Daily step count
was recorded as a proxy for general physical activity volume. This variable captured the total number of steps taken each day
Time frame
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeksSecondary outcomes
1
light activity
Periods of low-intensity movement such as slow walking or light household tasks,
Time frame
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks2
Sitting time
Total duration per day spent seated, used as a direct indicator of sedentary behavior
Time frame
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks3
Total sleep time
Sum of all sleep periods in a given night
Time frame
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks4
Children's Physical Activity Questionnaire (CPAQ)
To assess self-reported physical activity and sedentary behavior, the Children's Physical Activity Questionnaire (CPAQ) was administered to participants with the support of caregivers or facilitators when necessary. The CPAQ is a semi-structured, interviewer-administered instrument designed to evaluate the typical weekly frequency and duration of different activity types over the previous 7 days. Although originally developed for children, the CPAQ has been successfully adapted and validated in populations with intellectual and developmental disabilities due to its straightforward language and structure (McQueen et al., 2024).
Time frame
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeksSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University of Seville
Lead sponsor
Technical University of Munich
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov