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Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Cardio

Date Submitted: Mar 6, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Mar 6, 2024 - May 1, 2024
Date Accepted: Feb 3, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

Acceptability of a Web-Based Health App (PortfolioDiet.app) to Translate a Nutrition Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease in High-Risk Adults: Mixed Methods Randomized Ancillary Pilot Study

Kavanagh ME, Chiavaroli L, Quibrantar SM, Viscardi G, Ramboanga K, Amlin N, Paquette M, Sahye-Pudaruth S, Patel D, Grant S, Glenn A, Ayoub-Charette S, Zurbau A, Josse R, Malik VS, Kendall CWC, Jenkins DJ, Sievenpiper JL

Acceptability of a Web-Based Health App (PortfolioDiet.app) to Translate a Nutrition Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease in High-Risk Adults: Mixed Methods Randomized Ancillary Pilot Study

JMIR Cardio 2025;9:e58124

DOI: 10.2196/58124

PMID: 40152922

PMCID: 11992491

Acceptability of a Web-Based Health Application (PortfolioDiet.app) to Translate a Nutrition Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease in High-Risk Adults: Mixed Methods Randomized Ancillary Pilot Study

  • Meaghan E Kavanagh; 
  • Laura Chiavaroli; 
  • Selina M Quibrantar; 
  • Gabrielle Viscardi; 
  • Kimberly Ramboanga; 
  • Natalie Amlin; 
  • Melanie Paquette; 
  • Sandhya Sahye-Pudaruth; 
  • Darshna Patel; 
  • Shannan Grant; 
  • Andrea Glenn; 
  • Sabrina Ayoub-Charette; 
  • Andreea Zurbau; 
  • Robert Josse; 
  • Vasanti S Malik; 
  • Cyril W C Kendall; 
  • David JA Jenkins; 
  • John L Sievenpiper

ABSTRACT

Background:

The Portfolio Diet is a plant-based dietary pattern for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction. To enhance implementation of the Portfolio Diet, we developed the PortfolioDiet.app.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of PortfolioDiet.app on dietary adherence and its acceptability among adults with a high risk of CVD over 12-weeks.

Methods:

Forty-one participants in an ongoing study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02481466) were invited to participate in an ancillary study and be randomized to the PortfolioDiet.app or a control for 12 weeks. Adherence to the Portfolio Diet was assessed by weighed 7-day diet records at baseline and 12-weeks using the clinical-Portfolio Diet Score (c-PDS). Acceptability of the app was evaluated using a multifaceted approach, including usability through the System Usability Scale (SUS), with a score higher than 70 being considered acceptable, and a qualitative analysis of open-ended questions using Nvivo 12.

Results:

Fourteen participants were randomized (8 intervention, 6 control) and completed the ancillary study. There was a tendency for an increase in adherence to the Portfolio Diet by 1.25±2.8 (5.0%) and 0.19±4.4 (0.8%) points in the app and control group, respectively, with no difference between groups (P>0.05). Participants used the app on average for 18±14 days per month and rated the app as usable (SUS of 80.9±17.3). Qualitative analyses identified four main themes (User Engagement, Usability, External Factors, and Added Components), which complemented the quantitative data obtained.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates the PortfolioDiet.app is usable and reinforces dietitian advice to follow the Portfolio Diet in adults at high risk of CVD. A randomized controlled trial investigating the PortfolioDiet.app on health-related outcomes is warranted. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02481466


 Citation

Please cite as:

Kavanagh ME, Chiavaroli L, Quibrantar SM, Viscardi G, Ramboanga K, Amlin N, Paquette M, Sahye-Pudaruth S, Patel D, Grant S, Glenn A, Ayoub-Charette S, Zurbau A, Josse R, Malik VS, Kendall CWC, Jenkins DJ, Sievenpiper JL

Acceptability of a Web-Based Health App (PortfolioDiet.app) to Translate a Nutrition Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease in High-Risk Adults: Mixed Methods Randomized Ancillary Pilot Study

JMIR Cardio 2025;9:e58124

DOI: 10.2196/58124

PMID: 40152922

PMCID: 11992491

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