The Prevention of Dementia using Mobile phone Applications (PRODEMOS) project has published a new paper in the journal BMJ Open, entitled “Needs and views on healthy lifestyles for the prevention of dementia and the potential role for mobile health (mHealth) interventions in China: a qualitative study”. In this study, authors explored the knowledge, experiences, attitudes, needs and views of Chinese older adults regarding healthy lifestyles for the prevention of dementia and cardiovascular disease through Mobile health (mHealth) interventions. In total, 26 interviews were performed in China. Participants were aged 55 to 86 years, had a middle or low socioeconomic background, no dementia diagnosis but had dementia risk factors, and possessed a smartphone.
Three main themes were identified: 1) valuing a healthy lifestyle, 2) sociocultural expectations and 3) need for guidance. First, many participants stressed that a healthy lifestyle is important. Moreover, participants mentioned the Chinese healthy behaviours, including taking footbaths, spinning walnuts and having a balanced temperament, as important to prevent disease. Second, the sociocultural context played a crucial role as the support from family and friends can be helpful to start or maintain healthy behaviours. However, time-consuming family responsibilities could also sometimes be a barrier for healthy behaviours, such as regular physical activity. Finally, participants were willing to improve their lifestyle behaviours and expressed a need for reliable and personalised lifestyle guidance from a health professional.
The PRODEMOS project is assessing the effectiveness and implementation of a coach-supported mHealth intervention to reduce overall dementia risk in older people in the UK and China using a mHealth application (specially developed for the project). The results of this published study will facilitate the development and cultural adaptation of the PRODEMOS intervention, adjusting it to the needs and wishes of the Chinese target population. You can read the paper, here:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9684993/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 779238 and the National Key R&D Programme of China (2017YFE0118800). Further information on the PRODEMOS project can be found here: https://www.prodemos-project.eu