Use of Track Health Function of the MyHealthevet Personal Health Record

Use of the Track Health Function of the MyHealtheVet Personal Health Record

This study was a pilot 3-month clinical trial that investigated the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of using the Track Health function of the Veterans Health Administration's patient health record for effecting a more positive physical activity (PA) and dietary intake lifestyle in a sample of 38 overweight and obese Veterans with prediabetes. Baseline and three-month post-intervention outcomes were measured in two main domains: objective (e.g., weight) and subjective (e.g., self-efficacy).

This was a pilot clinical trial that used a single-group design to test the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of using the Track Health (TH) function of My HealtheVet, the VA's patient health record (PHR), as a tool for effecting a more positive physical activity (PA) and dietary intake lifestyle in overweight and obese Veterans with prediabetes. Baseline and three-month post-intervention outcomes were measured in two main domains: objective (PA as measured by an accelerometer, diet, weight, abdominal circumference, BMI, and blood pressure) and subjective (self-efficacy, intent to adhere to lifestyle change, and patient activation). Assessments, including screening on inclusion and exclusion criteria, physiological measurements, administration of questionnaires, and training on use of two critical features of the TH function--the use of Journals to enter dietary and PA data and the use of Vitals + Readings to enter weight and track physiological measures--took place place across four visits to the study site, which was the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Miami. The investigators hypothesized that this PHR-based intervention would demonstrate improvements and increases, respectively in the objective and subjective domain measures. The investigators also hypothesized that engagement by study participants with MHV would be demonstrated through meeting target criteria regarding making entries into this PHR's TH function, and that participants would be satisfied with the intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Veterans with diagnosis of prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7-6.4%, fasting plasma glucose 100-125 mg/dL or oral glucose tolerance test 140-199 mg/dL)
• English speaking
• Access to the Internet
• Body mass index (BMI) of 25-42 kg/m and a sedentary lifestyle (not being physically active three days per week for 20 minutes each time for the previous six months and not performing regular resistance exercise)
• Able to engage in a regular program of mild-to-moderate intensity physical activity but were not currently following a weight loss diet or participating in an intervention trial

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitively impaired (Mini-Cog greater than or equal to 3)
• Depressed (PHQ-2 less than or equal to 3)
• Vision or hearing disorders
• Have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, or cardiovascular disease
• Currently pregnant or nursing.