Acceptance and usability of the healthy behaviours app
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of acceptance and usability of an app promoting healthy behaviours amongst young women at increased risk of breast cancer
IRAS ID
307594
Contact name
Mary Pegington
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Around 20% of breast cancer (BC) in the UK is potentially preventable through modifiable health behaviours. Overweight/obesity and weight gain through adulthood are responsible for around 8%, 8% is associated with alcohol intake, while not breastfeeding is responsible for 5%. Other health behaviours that increase risk include lack of physical activity (PA) and smoking. A significant proportion of breast cancer cases, around 40%, occur in the 20% of women who are at increased risk. Health behaviours have been shown to increase risk to an equal or greater extent in women with a family history of BC compared to those without. We have developed a weight gain prevention and healthy behaviours app for women at increased risk under 35 years old with input from that cohort to reduce their BC risk. This study is to evaluate the acceptance and usability of the app in this population of women. Women will use the app for two months and answer questionnaires about it, and may also be invited for an interview after having used it.Summary of Results
14 women aged 26–35 years at increased risk of breast cancer were interviewed about their views on a programme to help women at increased risk of breast cancer to avoid weight gain in early adulthood.Four themes emerged: (1) perceptions of a healthy lifestyle: women’s perceptions included health-related behaviours and subjective wellbeing; (2) construing a healthy weight: women rely on appearance, feelings and others opinions to construe weight instead of quantitative indicators; (3) configuring a useful programme: the idea of a programme that is remotely accessible; provides a point of contact; and promotes general wellbeing was appealing. Women believed information explaining the link between lifestyle and breast cancer would facilitate behaviour change; (4) the importance of will(power): women recognised that commitment to a programme is affected by time, money and readiness to change.
A weight gain prevention intervention that focuses on wellbeing and behaviour change appears acceptable to many healthy weight women.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
22/WA/0164
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion