A Real-World Study of a Mobile Device-based Serious Health Game on Session Attendance in the National Diabetes Prevention Program

The overall prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the United States (US) is estimated at more than 30 million people, with an estimated 88 million more adults meeting the criteria for having prediabetes and being at risk for progressing to type 2 diabetes. The significant burden of diabetes, as well as the high individual and societal cost it bears, renders this disease among the highest public health priorities for the health authorities and policy makers. In response to the rising diabetes prevalence, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) in 2010 as a framework for diabetes prevention by providing evidence-based, affordable, and high-quality lifestyle change programs (LCPs). The National DPP LCP is a yearlong education-based curriculum focused on achieving modest weight loss (5% to 7%) and increasing participants' physical activity to reduce the risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes. To ensure high-quality programs and meaningful impact on participants, the CDC sets standards for organizations that wish to offer an LCP through the Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program (DPRP). The DPRP plays a critical role in ensuring that organizations can effectively deliver the evidence-based lifestyle change program with quality and fidelity. To achieve recognition status, organizations must periodically provide evidence that they are following a CDC-approved curriculum and achieving meaningful results on session attendance, body weight change, and physical activity minutes.

A recent analysis of National DPP data has shown that the attrition rates in this program are substantial and that they differ by age and race. Moreover, the attrition rates were inversely associated with the program success, as reflected by the LCP outcomes, and, specifically, participants' weight and level of physical activity. In view of these findings, the CDC is undertaking an effort to increase participant retention in the National DPP.

The proposed study will evaluate the pilot use of a free-of-charge mobile device-based serious health game (WellQuest™) within the frame of the National DPP LCP. WellQuest™ was designed with the goals to improve participant engagement and retention in the LCP, to encourage adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyle habits among LCP participants, and to reinforce knowledge of the LCP curriculum.