Feasibility trial of the My Health Coach app for adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

OBJECTIVES

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) affect health and development across the lifespan. Adults with FASD experience significant barriers to care. Together with the International Adult Leadership Collaborative of FASD Changemakers, an international group of self-advocates, a mobile health application was co-created to support self-management and health advocacy. This feasibility trial assesses the My Health Coach app to determine readiness for a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT).

METHODS

Eligibility for this online trial included adults with FASD or known prenatal alcohol exposure who had conversational and literacy fluency in English. Adults received the app for 6 weeks on their personal smartphones (iOS or Android). Pre- and post-intervention assessments included quality of life, basic psychological needs based on self-determination theory constructs (autonomy, relatedness, competency), self-management, and app acceptability. User experience interviews were also conducted post-intervention. Usage and app crashes were monitored. Study objectives assessed feasibility of the trial (recruitment, attrition, study procedures, measure sensitivity), intervention (technical functionality, acceptability), and implementation (app usage).

RESULTS

Recruitment strategies proved sufficient with 95 adults screened and 43 deemed eligible. Analyses identified variables related to attrition. Study procedures were considered acceptable. Measures showed good acceptability and psychometric properties. The My Health Coach app was functional and acceptable to participants. Several refinements to trial infrastructure and construct measurement were identified for future RCTs.

CONCLUSIONS

The My Health Coach app is feasible and shows promise in supporting adults with FASD with condition management. Trial results prove sufficient to proceed with a larger RCT to test efficacy.