Development of a healthy eating kiosk-based feasibility study in a public health primary care clinic

Telehealth technology has potential to provide education and support for modifiable risk factors in chronic disease such as unhealthy eating. Eating for Heart Health (E4H2)was designed as a randomized controlled study to assess the feasibility of implementing a healthy eating, kiosk-based intervention in a public health primary care clinic. The study specified participants be adults with a BMI of 25 or greater, receiving care at the clinic,and able to log into an onsite kiosk on a weekly basis. Study protocol was approved by the university institutional review board and the public health department research committee. A multi-disciplinary research team was assembled with expertise in public health, nursing and nutrition. Researchers identified a telehealth company with affordable technology and experience in chronic disease management and patient education. The company was also willing to provide operational support for a feasibility study. Research staff received video-conference training on the telehealth multi-user patient station and to introduce them to the algorithm-based disease modules. Education and self-management content appropriate for the research intervention were identified. Researchers and telehealth staff worked together to finalize sessions for the healthy eating (intervention) and general health (attention control) groups. The station/kiosk was operationalized to provide participant access to the health education curricula and offer blood pressure and weight monitoring. Feasibility will be evaluated by assessing factors such as time for delivery of the intervention, frequency of kiosk log-in and participant qualitative interviews about their telehealth experience. Effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated by testing for group difference in knowledge of healthy eating.