title: Real-time social support through a mobile virtual community to improve healthy behavior in overweight and sedentary adults: a focus group analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus can be prevented or delayed by lifestyle changes. Communication technologies such as a mobile phone can be used as a means of delivering these lifestyle changes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this analysis were to explore applicability of potential components of a mobile phone-based healthy lifestyle program and to understand motivators and barriers to continued engagement in a mobile phone healthy lifestyle program.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted 6 focus groups (4 female and 2 male groups) in May and June 2010 with 35 focus group participants. The qualitative data were analyzed by 3 researchers using a qualitative description method in an ATLAS.ti software program. Inclusion criteria for enrollment in a focus group were as follows: (1) being aged from 30 to 69 years, (2) speaking and reading English, (3) having a sedentary lifestyle at work or during leisure time (screened by the Brief Physical Activity Survey questionnaire), and (4) having a body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m(2) (Asian >23 kg/m(2)) based on self-reported weight and height or 5) having a self-reported prediabetic condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 51 (SD 10.6) years; 54% (n = 19) were white; 71% (n = 25) used a mobile phone at least once a week during the last month prior to the study enrollment; and mean BMI was 32.5 (SD 6.5) kg/m(2). In the qualitative analyses, the following 4 major themes and their subthemes emerged: (1) real-time social support (real-time peer support from participants who are similarly engaged in a diet or physical activity program, and professional support from health care providers or a researcher), (2) tailoring of mobile phone programs (3) self-monitoring and motivation, and (4) potential barriers and sustainability of the program (fear of failing, age and mobile technologies, and loss of interest over time).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants from a wide range of age and racial groups expressed interest in a mobile phone-based lifestyle program. Such a program that incorporates the themes that we identified may be able to help motivate participants to increase their physical activity and to improve their diet.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health and Aging, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States. Yoshimi.Fukuoka@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamitani
authors.forename: Kemberlee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindgren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012944:Social Support