Experience and Health Impact of University Students Accessing a Digital Nutrition, Fitness and Mindfulness Platform

University of Alberta

Status

Completed

Conditions

Physical Activity

Nutrition

Health Behavior

Stress

Treatments

Behavioral: My Viva Plan

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT03579264

Pro00079680

Details and patient eligibility

About

Dietary choices, quality of life and stress will be evaluated in a sample of 100 undergraduate students who are in their first year of university. Students will be randomized into the following two groups; intervention arm (students who will use a preventative self-care program for 12 weeks) vs. control arm (students who will not use a preventative self-care program for 12 weeks).

Full description

When individuals look after their own health using online applications they can expect similar or even better health outcomes compared to those obtained by using conventional methods. These kind of tools are popular among University students. Due to the many changes and challenges that students face in the first year of University, this sector of our population is at higher risk of presenting nutritional problems, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Recently, a Canadian online application called My Viva Plan® became available. This program is based on preventive self-care and it includes three key pillars of health: nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Changes in dietary choices, quality of life and stress will be evaluated in a sample of 100 undergraduate students who are in their first year of university. Students will be randomized into the following two groups; students who will use the program vs. students who will not use the program. Questionnaires regarding physical activity, mindfulness and mental well-being will be evaluated at baseline, week 6 and week 12. Body composition characteristics using bioelectrical impedance analysis will be collected at the start and end of the study (baseline and week 12).

The objective is to determine if the use of an online application based on preventive self-care will result in better food choices, better quality of life, and reduced stress in first year university students.

Enrollment

97 patients

Sex

All

Ages

17 to 30 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

First-year undergraduate university students attending the University of Alberta's North Campus
Students who are able to complete study assessments in their first year of university
17-30 years of age

Exclusion criteria

Students with self-reported eating disorders
Students with self-reported untreated depression, anxiety or other mood disorders
Students who do not own a device to access the internet (i.e. tablet, computer, laptop, smart phone)
Students who are not able to communicate in English
Pregnant or lactating women
Individuals with pace-makers or electronic implantable devices