title: Improving awareness, knowledge and heart-related lifestyle of coronary heart disease among working population through a mHealth programme: study protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a mHealth programme, entitled 'Care4Heart' for the working population in Singapore and thereafter examine its feasibility and effectiveness in increasing the awareness and knowledge of coronary heart disease and improving their heart-related lifestyle.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Teaching and encouraging the working population to adopt a healthier lifestyle could result in preventing and/or decreasing the incidence of coronary heart disease among this population. The use of mobile application (app) is the next logical wave of healthcare support tools to prevent and manage chronic diseases like coronary heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental longitudinal study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study will be conducted in a tertiary university in Singapore. A non-probability, quota sampling of 200 participants will be recruited including 100 academic and research staff, 50 administrative staff and 50 support staff and business owners. Once consent is obtained, the newly developed mobile app will be installed onto the participants' smartphones and a well-trained research assistant will brief the participant on the use of the app. The main outcomes will be measured using the survey questionnaires: Awareness of coronary heart disease, Heart Disease Fact Questionnaire-2, Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System and Perceived Stress Scale. Data will be collected at baseline and at the 4th week and 6th month thereafter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If this project is successful, Care4Heart - a mHealth and novel prevention educational programme for the working population in Singapore - can be used to promote knowledge and positive heart-related lifestyle changes to prevent coronary heart disease.
authors: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Wenru
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Violeta
authors: V
authors: Lopez
authors: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Vivien Xi
authors: VX
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Information Systems, Computing School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Danny Chiang Choon
authors: DC
authors: Poo
authors: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Yanika
authors: Y
authors: Kowitlawakul
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009790:Occupations; D012846:Singapore
keywords: awareness; coronary heart disease; heart-related lifestyle; knowledge; mHealth; nursing