Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
05:59

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Published on: March 7, 2019

6.8K

Process Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial With a Mobile Health Intervention for Children With Obesity

Linnea Hedin1,2, Maria Hagströmer3,4,5, Claude Marcus1

  • 1Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Pediatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Sage Open Pediatrics
|July 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Recruitment and retention in pediatric obesity trials are challenging due to technical issues and participant engagement. Improving mobile health (mHealth) interventions requires addressing these barriers for better outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Obesity Treatment
  • Digital Health Interventions
  • Clinical Trial Management

Background:

  • Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer potential for pediatric obesity treatment.
  • Understanding barriers in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is crucial for successful implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify barriers to recruitment, attrition, and mHealth usage in a Swedish pediatric obesity RCT.
  • To evaluate these barriers using Normalization Process Theory (NPT).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective process evaluation of an mHealth intervention for children aged 5-12.
  • Data collected on staff/parental mHealth experience, usage, staff time, recruitment, and attrition.
  • Analysis aligned with NPT constructs.

Main Results:

  • Complex recruitment, with summer enrollment impacting engagement.
  • Attrition linked to technical issues, low motivation, and dislike of the mHealth intervention.
  • Technical problems were the primary barrier to mHealth use; staff found the intervention time-consuming and difficult to understand.

Conclusions:

  • Findings highlight key challenges in pediatric mHealth RCTs.
  • Suggests strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and mHealth adoption in future trials.
  • Addressing technical and engagement barriers is vital for effective pediatric obesity interventions.
Abstract

Keywords:
Normalization Process TheoryattritionmHealth interventionpediatric obesityrecruitmentweight management

More Related Videos

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program04:24

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Published on: April 19, 2019

11.7K
Iterative Development of an Innovative Smartphone-Based Dietary Assessment Tool: Traqq04:54

Iterative Development of an Innovative Smartphone-Based Dietary Assessment Tool: Traqq

Published on: March 19, 2021

4.7K

Related Concept Videos

Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
Randomized Experiments01:13

Randomized Experiments

The randomization process involves assigning study participants randomly to experimental or control groups based on their probability of being equally assigned. Randomization is meant to eliminate selection bias and balance known and unknown confounding factors so that the control group is similar to the treatment group as much as possible. A computer program and a random number generator can be used to assign participants to groups in a way that minimizes bias.
Simple randomization
Simple...