Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Jan 28, 2024
Date Accepted: Apr 18, 2024
Health@NUS: protocol and participant characteristics of an mHealth augmented cohort study examining student-to-work life transition
ABSTRACT
Background:
Integration of mHealth data collection methods into cohort studies enables the collection of intensive longitudinal information, which gives deeper insights into individuals’ health and lifestyle behavioural patterns over time, as compared to traditional cohort methods with less frequent data collection. These findings can then fill the gaps that remain in understanding how various lifestyle behaviours interact as students graduate from university and seek employment (student-to-work life transition), where the inability to adapt quickly to a changing environment greatly affects the mental well-being of young adults.
Objective:
The aim of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the study methodology and baseline characteristics of participants in Health@ NUS, a longitudinal study leveraging mHealth to examine the trajectories of health behaviours, physical health, and well-being, and their diverse determinants, for young adults during the student-to-work life transition.
Methods:
University students were recruited between August 2020 to June 2022 in Singapore. Participants would complete biometric assessments and questionnaires at three timepoints (baseline, 12-, and 24-month follow up visits) and use a Fitbit smartwatch and smartphone app to continuously collect physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, and dietary data over the two-year period. Additionally, up to twelve two-week long bursts of app-based ecological momentary surveys capturing lifestyle behaviours and well-being would be sent out between the three timepoints.
Results:
Interested participants (n=1556) were screened for eligibility, and 776 participants were enrolled in the study. Participants are mostly female (56.8%), of Chinese ethnicity (92.0%), undergraduate students (97.8%), and had a mean BMI of 21.9 (SD±3.3) kg/m2, and mean age of 22.7 (SD±1.7) years. A substantial proportion was overweight (26.1%) or obese (5.4%), had indicated poor mental well-being (WHO-5 score ≤50; 37.7%), or was at higher risk for psychological distress (K6 ≥13; 14.1%)).
Conclusions:
Findings from this study will provide detailed insights into the determinants and trajectories of health behaviours, health and well-being during the student-to-work life transition experienced by young adults. Clinical Trial: -
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