Educational Program for a Healthy Lifestyle

(DFEND Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a 20-week program can enhance nutrition, physical activity, and overall well-being. Participants will attend weekly online lectures, meet with personal coaches, and engage in health challenges using virtual platforms like Zoom and Facebook. The program targets Arkansas residents interested in managing or preventing overweight and obesity through lifestyle changes. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity for participants to explore lifestyle changes in a supportive, educational environment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on lifestyle changes rather than medication use.

What prior data suggests that this educational program is safe?

Research has shown that educational programs can enhance health understanding and promote healthier living. One study found that these programs improve both health knowledge and behavior. Personalized coaching, such as support through text messages, also aids in this process. Studies indicate that this type of coaching fosters healthier choices by creating a supportive environment, leading to better health habits.

Additionally, behavior-focused challenges can be beneficial. Research suggests that diet and exercise programs improve health, especially when well-timed and supported. Participants in similar programs reported positive experiences and health improvements. Overall, these methods encourage healthier habits with minimal risk. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this treatment because it combines education, personalized coaching, and weekly behavior modification challenges to promote a healthy lifestyle. Unlike typical treatments that might focus solely on diet or exercise, this approach offers a comprehensive, tailored plan that adapts to individual needs. By integrating personal coaching and weekly challenges, participants receive continuous support and motivation, potentially leading to more sustainable lifestyle changes. The holistic nature of this method sets it apart from more traditional, one-size-fits-all programs, making it a promising option for those seeking personalized health improvement strategies.

What evidence suggests that this educational program is effective for improving nutrition and physical activity?

Research has shown that educational programs can help people improve their health habits. In this trial, participants will receive a combination of educational interventions and personalized coaching. Studies have found that these programs increase understanding of health information and encourage adherence to healthy routines. Personalized coaching effectively helps people change behaviors and achieve significant weight loss. Additionally, weekly challenges focused on changing habits positively impact the development of new, healthy routines. Together, these strategies can lead to better eating and increased physical activity, supporting overall health. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jamie Baum, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Arkansas

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Arkansas residents of any ethnicity, both female and male, interested in improving their nutrition and physical activity to prevent or manage overweight and obesity. It aims to help with healthy eating, sleep, lifestyle habits, and may also benefit those feeling depressed.

Inclusion Criteria

Resides in Arkansas

All ethnicities

I am either female or male.

Exclusion Criteria

N/A

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Educational Program

Participants engage in a 20-week educational program, project DFEND, involving weekly lectures, meetings with personalized coaches, and health challenges via virtual platforms

20 weeks

Weekly virtual meetings

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for improvements in nutrition, physical activity, mood, sleep, and dietary intake

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Education
• Personalized coaching
• Weekly behavior modification challenges

Trial Overview

The study tests a 20-week educational program called project DFEND. Participants will attend weekly lectures on health, meet with personal coaches for tailored advice, and take part in behavior modification challenges through virtual platforms like Zoom.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Behavioral Education and personalized coaching Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Lead Sponsor

Trials

24

Recruited

2,100+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A randomized multicenter study in Munich demonstrated that a psychoeducation program significantly reduced rehospitalization rates for patients with schizophrenia from 58% to 41% over two years.

The program also led to a decrease in the number of days spent in the hospital, from 78 to 39 days, highlighting its efficacy in improving patient outcomes and supporting the need for such programs to be available to all affected individuals and their families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychoeducation: a basic psychotherapeutic intervention for patients with schizophrenia and their families. Bäuml, J., Froböse, T., Kraemer, S., et al.[2022]

A school program was developed in Italy to promote mental health and prevent mental illness, featuring a manual with 18 chapters focused on essential skills like communication, problem-solving, and stress management.

The manual was positively received by 253 students across 10 high schools and 1 middle school, indicating its acceptability, while its effectiveness in promoting mental health is still under evaluation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A student manual for promoting mental health among high school students. Gigantesco, A., Del Re, D., Cascavilla, I.[2019]

The Inner North Brisbane Mental Health Service implemented a structured Healthy Living Program with three modules focusing on Nutrition, Physical Health, and Community Activities, which received positive feedback from participants, indicating satisfaction and intention to adopt healthier lifestyle changes.

While the program has shown immediate positive responses from participants, further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of the program on health and well-being among mental health service recipients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Addressing the health and lifestyle issues of people with a mental illness: the Healthy Living Programme. O'Sullivan, J., Gilbert, J., Ward, W.[2017]

Patient education programs can significantly enhance self-management of chronic illnesses like diabetes, which is crucial for prevention and lifestyle modification.

Evaluating the effectiveness of these programs is complex due to various influencing factors, including patient demographics, disease characteristics, and healthcare system dynamics, all of which must be considered in research design.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Measures and methods in evaluating patient education programs for chronic illness. Lane, DS., Evans, D.[2019]

A computer-delivered psycho-education program was well-received by patients in forensic psychiatry, with participants (n=10) finding it easy to use and enjoyable, which suggests good user engagement.

The study indicates that this CD-ROM approach is an effective method for educating patients about psychosis, particularly appealing to younger individuals who are more comfortable with technology.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computer-based education for patients with psychosis. Walker, H.[2016]

A quality improvement project involving 124 psychiatric patients showed that individualized safety plans created during inpatient treatment were well-tailored, scoring an average of 32.85 out of 44 on a customization rubric.

Postdischarge, 96.1% of patients retained their safety plans, and 36.8% reported using them, with 67.9% of those users finding the plans helpful, indicating that these plans can support recovery after hospitalization.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bridging the Gap Between Individualized Inpatient Safety Planning and Postdischarge Efficacy. Leonard, J., Chiappetta, L., Stark, S., et al.[2023]

Therapeutic education significantly improves patients' quality of life and treatment compliance, leading to remarkable outcomes such as an 80% reduction in amputations over 10 years for diabetic patients.

Motivational interviewing techniques are crucial in helping patients change their behaviors gradually, making them active partners in their treatment and enhancing their ability to manage their health effectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Therapeutic education of the diabetic patient]. Golay, A., Lagger, G., Chambouleyron, M., et al.[2015]

Citations

1.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033350625002343

Educational interventions for the adoption of healthy ...

Overall, our results show that effective educational interventions may improve health literacy and adherence to health-promoting behaviors, and have the ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11900387/

Health behaviour interventions to improve mental health ...

This study aims to determine the efficacy of health behaviour interventions in relation to change in health behaviour and mental health outcomes.

3.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7530417/

The effect of educational intervention on health-promoting ...

The educational intervention is effective in improving behaviors related to health-promoting lifestyle and its dimensions.

4.

nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41598-025-19417-5

Educational intervention for mental health and ...

Educational interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in improving mental health and health-promoting behaviors among older adults. ...

5.

cdc.gov

cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2023/22_0235.htm

Effect of an Educational Intervention on Lifestyle ...

Education and counseling interventions have been proven effective in preventing and controlling hypertension (7,8). This type of behavioral ...

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3595656/

Educational Intervention on Health Related Lifestyle ...

The aim of the study was to examine the role of education in improving lifestyles among Iranian adolescents.

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4293700/

The COPE healthy lifestyles TEEN randomized controlled ...

The authors describe the design, intervention, methods and baseline data for a randomized controlled trial with 779 culturally diverse high-school adolescents.

8.

bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com

bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-14688-3

School-based peer education interventions to improve health

This review aims to summarise the effectiveness of existing peer-led health interventions implemented in schools worldwide.

9.

odphp.health.gov

odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/education-access-and-quality

Education Access and Quality - Healthy People 2030

Healthy People 2030 focuses on providing high-quality educational opportunities for children and adolescents — and on helping them do well in school. Children ...