Lifestyle Hub Pilot Study

Effect of a Culturally Adapted Self-help Smartphone-based Lifestyle Intervention in Improving Psychological Well-being: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This study will examine the effects of a smartphone-based lifestyle medicine (LM) for improving psychological well-being in Chinese population. Since a range of lifestyle factors are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of common mental disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety), modifying different lifestyle factors simultaneously may be effective to improve our psychological well-being. Chinese dietary recommendations will be integrated into the app to increase the acceptability towards mental health intervention. Through this study, we aim to promote evidence-based patient care and to improve help-seeking and access to evidence-based interventions for improving psychological well-being.

This study will be a randomized controlled trial on the effects of a culturally adapted self-help smartphone-based lifestyle medicine for improving psychological well-being in Chinese population. Prior to all study procedures, eligible participants will be required to complete an online informed consent (with telephone support). Around 30 eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either smartphone-based lifestyle medicine (LM group) or the waitlist control group (WL group) in a ratio of 1:1.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hong Kong residents
• Aged ≥ 18 years
• Able to read Chinese and type in Chinese or English
• Have an Internet-enabled mobile device (iOS or Android operating system)
• Are willing to provide informed consent and comply with the trial protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10
• Have a Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) ≥ 8
• Current involvement in psychotherapy or unstable medication for depression and/or anxiety
• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) Item 9 score of at least 2 indicating a current moderate suicidal risk that requires active crisis management (referral information to professional services will be provided to those with serious suicidal risk)
• Are having unsafe conditions and are not recommended for physical activity or a change in diet by physicians
• Having major psychiatric, medical or neurocognitive disorders that make participation infeasible or interfere with the adherence to the lifestyle modification