Design and Implementation of a Mobile App for Promoting Healthy and Sustainable Eating Among Stud… (NCT06977802) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Design and Implementation of a Mobile App for Promoting Healthy and Sustainable Eating Among Students at the University of Parma (MAPHealthS)
Italy60 participantsStarted 2024-11-04
Plain-language summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile app (MAPHealthS) in promoting healthy and sustainable eating habits among university students at the University of Parma. The study aims to answer the following questions:
Does the use of the educational mobile app increase daily fiber intake among students?
Does the app improve adherence to sustainable and healthy diets (e.g., Mediterranean and Planetary diets)?
What are the effects of the app on physical activity levels, anthropometric measures, and the environmental impact of participants' diets?
Researchers will compare the intervention group (using the app) to a control group (no intervention) over a 12-week period, including a 6-week active phase and a 6-week follow-up phase.
Participants will:
Download and use the app (intervention group) or follow no intervention (control group) for 12 weeks.
Complete dietary assessments (24-hour recalls, food frequency questionnaires), provide urine and fecal samples, and undergo anthropometric measurements at multiple time points.
Wear actigraphs (a subgroup) to measure energy expenditure.
Answer questionnaires on dietary habits, physical activity, and app usability.
The study expects to see a significant increase in fiber intake (7g/day) and improved sustainability awareness among app users.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 30 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
University students (undergraduate/graduate) at the University of Parma Age 18-29 years Italian nationality and residence in Italy Baseline fiber intake \<17.7g/day (below Italian average) Ownership of an iOS/Android smartphone with internet access No current use of nutrition/health tracking apps
No self-reported:
* Chronic diseases (diabetes, metabolic disorders)
* Eating disorders
* Use of medications for hypertension/dyslipidemia
* No antibiotic/probiotic use in past 4 weeks
* Not following prescribed diets or meal plans
* Not pregnant/lactating Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
Not University students (undergraduate/graduate) at the University of Parma Not Aged 18-29 years Not Italian nationality and residence in Italy Baseline fiber intake \>17.7g/day (over Italian average) Not ownership of an iOS/Android smartphone with internet access Current use of nutrition/health tracking apps
Self-reported:
* Chronic diseases (diabetes, metabolic disorders)
* Eating disorders
* Use of medications for hypertension/dyslipidemia
* Antibiotic/probiotic use in past 4 weeks
* Following prescribed diets or meal plans
* Pregnant/lactating
Not signed informed consent
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Dietary Fiber Intake
Timeframe: Baseline (T0), after three-weeks (T1), after six-weeks (T2), after twelve-weeks (T3)