Designing Technology to Facilitate Participation in Health Behavior Interventions among Underserved Populations: A CBPR Approach to Reduce Health Disparities and Address Changing Norms since COVID-19

Project Summary Co-designing mobile health (mHealth) technology can improve the use and acceptability of behavioral prevention interventions. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are leading causes of death, especially for communities who have high rates of obesity. Given the substantial changes to daily life routines and potential preferences for participation surrounding in-person behavioral interventions, as a result of the pandemic, we must consider the intersection of continued differences in health outcomes for communities, new social norms and attitudes, and new patterns of health behavior. The overarching goal of this project is to improve health and participation in behavioral prevention interventions, considering new health behavior patterns, social norms, and increased technology use related to the pandemic. The research project specific aims are to: (1) conduct key informant interviews and focus groups, (2) develop and implement a community health and health behavior survey, and (3) based on community feedback [from aims 1 and 2], co-design, develop and test new technology, in collaboration with the CSUSM Innovation Hub, that is meaningful and responsive to participant needs and preferences. Additionally, with commitment to training students in biomedical research, we were purposeful in outlining research capacity specific aims. They are, to: (1) enhance the research capacity of students in biomedical research, especially towards training future independent prevention intervention researchers and health scholars, and (2) enhance the research capacity, sustainability, and excellence of CSUSM through meaningful collaborations between the principal investigator, the CSUSM Innovation Hub, and other collaborators and community partners. To co-design and test the new technology, an mHealth smartphone application, we will use a Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach and formative research. Components will likely include strategies to improve obesity-related health behaviors and mental health. Research capacity: We will evaluate the demographics and number of students involved in research, including student outcomes (e.g., posters, papers, and graduate school application/acceptance rates). We will also evaluate attitudes, satisfaction, trust, and perceived impact of the collaboration. The proposed research lays the foundation for purposeful and progressive funding (i.e., this R16, STTR, R21, R01) that will advance the science and innovation in prevention intervention research.