Mobile-based program improves healthy eating of ulcerative colitis patients: A pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Digital Health
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Dietary management is vital for ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment.
• Existing e-services lack continuous monitoring and dynamic adjustment for long-term UC dietary needs.
• A novel tool is needed for diet tracking, personalized feedback, and evidence-based advice for UC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a WeChat applet named "HealthyGut" for UC dietary management.
• To provide UC patients with a tool for continuous monitoring and dynamic adjustment of their diet.
• To assess the impact of mobile-based dietary management on nutritional intake in UC patients.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week randomized controlled trial involving 134 UC patients.
• Intervention group used the "HealthyGut" applet for mobile-based dietary management.
• Control group used a paper-based food diary and received routine advice.

Main Results:

• High retention rates in both groups (89.6% intervention, 77.6% control).
• "HealthyGut" demonstrated good usability (System Usability Scale score 79.63) and positive user experiences.
• Intervention responders showed significantly higher daily energy intake at week 12 compared to the control group (p=0.002).

Conclusions:

• "HealthyGut" is a feasible and accepted dietary management tool for UC patients.
• The applet may empower UC patients to make healthier food choices.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm efficacy.