Real-time social support through a mobile virtual community to improve healthy behavior in overweight and sedentary adults: A focus group analysis

Background: the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus can be prevented or delayed by lifestyle changes. communication technologies such as a mobile phone can be used as a means of delivering these lifestyle changes. objectives: the purposes of this analysis were to explore applicability of potential components of a mobile phone-based healthy lifestyle program and to understand motivators and barriers to continued engagement in a mobile phone healthy lifestyle program. methods: we conducted 6 focus groups (4 female and 2 male groups) in may and june 2010 with 35 focus group participants. the qualitative data were analyzed by 3 researchers using a qualitative description method in an atlas.ti software program. inclusion criteria for enrollment in a focus group were as follows: (1) being aged from 30 to 69 years,(2) speaking and reading english,(3) having a sedentary lifestyle at work or during leisure time (screened by the brief physical activity survey questionnaire),and (4) having a body mass index (bmi) >25 kg/m2 (asian >23 kg/m2) based on self-reported weight and height or 5) having a self-reported prediabetic condition. results: the mean age was 51 (sd 10.6) years; 54% (n = 19) were white; 71% (n = 25) used a mobile phone at least once a week during the last month prior to the study enrollment; and mean bmi was 32.5 (sd 6.5) kg/m 2. in the qualitative analyses,the following 4 major themes and their subthemes emerged: (1) real-time social support (real-time peer support from participants who are similarly engaged in a diet or physical activity program,and professional support from health care providers or a researcher),(2) tailoring of mobile phone programs (3) self-monitoring and motivation,and (4) potential barriers and sustainability of the program (fear of failing,age and mobile technologies,and loss of interest over time). conclusions: participants from a wide range of age and racial groups expressed interest in a mobile phone-based lifestyle program. such a program that incorporates the themes that we identified may be able to help motivate participants to increase their physical activity and to improve their diet.