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. 2004 Sep 8;6(3):e28.
doi: 10.2196/jmir.6.3.e28.

Using the internet for life style changes in diet and physical activity: a feasibility study

Jacob Anhøj  1 , Anne Holm Jensen
Affiliations

Using the internet for life style changes in diet and physical activity: a feasibility study

Jacob Anhøj et al. J Med Internet Res. .

Abstract

Background: LinkMedica-Heart is a novel Internet based program intended to support people who seek to improve their life style by means of changes in diet and physical activity. The program is currently under evaluation in a clinical study and the present study is a feasibility test of the LinkMedica-Heart Internet based program.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate LinkMedica-Heart, an Internet based program we designed for support and maintenance of patient-led life style changes.

Methods: The feasibility study of LinkMedica-Heart presented here is a qualitative study. Nine general practitioners were invited to participate. Each practitioner was asked to introduce LinkMedica-Heart to not less than two patients, with a maximum of five patients per practitioner. Patients and general practitioners were both asked to participate in testing the program for a period of 6 months. At the end of 6 months, evaluation meetings were held with the general practitioners, and separate interviews took place with some of the participating patients who were selected by the GPs.

Results: Five general practitioners and 25 patients participated in the study. The general practitioners and the patients were enthusiastic about the prospect of an Internet based life style change program. However, the program was not able to sustain patient loyalty over an extended period. The doctors found that the program was much too complicated to navigate and that the results from the program could not be trusted. The patients in contrast had fewer complaints about the program design, but found that the advice given by the program was too elaborate and detailed and, in general, did not add to the patient's knowledge on life style change.

Conclusion: Our study confirms that there is a need for, and a receptive attitude toward a Web-based program that supports people who want to improve their life style and health. LinkMedica-Heart in its present form does not satisfy these needs. We suggest a number of design changes and improvements to the program.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no personal financial interests related to the subject matter discussed in the manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
LinkMedica-Heart home page
Figure 2
Figure 2
A page from the diet questionnaire. Each question, eg, “Morgenmad” (Breakfast) or “Frokost”(Lunch), requires patients to answer how often they have consumed an item during the previous month. Other questionnaire pages detail contents of each type of meal
Figure 3
Figure 3
Screen-shot of the physical activity questionnaire. A cartoon accompanying each question illustrates the activity level. The patient needs to answer with the average time spent per day, in hours and minutes, on an activity level. The answers must total 24 hours
Figure 4
Figure 4
Result page. The two graphs show the daily energy intake and energy outflow of the patient. Each colour in the bars indicates a constituent of the diet, eg, protein, carbohydrate,fat, and alcohol, or an activity, eg, sleeping, sitting, low, moderate, and vigorous physical activity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Disease management and the Internet.
    Demiris G. Demiris G. J Med Internet Res. 2004 Sep 29;6(3):e33. doi: 10.2196/jmir.6.3.e33. J Med Internet Res. 2004. PMID: 15471759 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

    1. National Board of Health, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention, authors. National Action Plan against Obesity, Recommendations and Perspectives, Short version. [2003 Sept 16]. http://www.sst.dk/
    1. WHO Technical Report Series, authors. Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. [2003 Sept 16]. http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/who_fao_expert_report.pdf. - PubMed
    1. Dansk Catering Center, Herlev, Denmark, authors. Home page. [2003 Sept 10]. http://www.dankost.dk/
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