Leveraging Technology to Promote Physical Activity in Patients with Prediabetes: Movement over Virtual Reality (MoVR)

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Physical inactivity is a significant public health concern contributing to numerous chronic diseases including diabetes. Inactivity contributes to 1 in 10 premature deaths and inadequate levels of physical activity are associated with $117 billion in annual health care costs. The Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study showed that continued physical activity over the 12-years post-DPP was independently associated with a long- term decreased risk of incident diabetes. Unfortunately, adherence remains low to the Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPP’s) recommended national guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week. Certain communities, such as those in under-resourced settings have demonstrated low retention rates in the DPP and are also less likely to achieve DPP weight loss outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) technology is an increasingly popular approach to promote physical activity and improve weight loss. However, VR technology has had limited reach in under-resourced settings due to gaps in digital health literacy, and lack of access to new forms of technology. For this R03, we propose to partner with community health workers (CHWs) to develop a digital literacy toolkit with best practices for administering health promoting digital technology and using VR in the safety-net clinic settings (aim 1). We will train 10 CHWs and conduct a longitudinal single arm feasibility study (aim 2) with 20 DPP clinic participants to explore if using VR exercise programs can promote physical activity among patients with prediabetes. Data from this study will inform a larger, fully powered RCT evaluating the effectiveness of VR technology in promoting physical activity and weight loss among patients with prediabetes. This research is distinct yet complementary to the research being conducted as part of the applicant’s K23. The K23 focuses on enhancing the nutritional component of the DPP. For this R03, we expand the applicants research focus to digital health interventions to enhance physical activity and engagement. This funding will support the applicants trajectory toward independence by fostering new collaborations in digital health intervention design and physical activity assessment, further strengthening her expertise in the area technology-driven behavior change interventions to prevent chronic disease and obesity.