Grant: Foundation Grant

Community Intervention; Continuous Glucose Monitors; Evidence-Based Behaviour Change Techniques; Exercise Adherence; Mobile Health; Prediabetes; Self-Monitoring; Self-Regulation; Self-Regulatory Skills

<html> <body> <p> <br> </p> <p>Exercise is a cornerstone in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). <strong>Identifying feasible and effective strategies to increase adherence to <em>independent</em> exercise in individuals with prediabetes is a pressing health promotion goal</strong>. My research has shown that adherence to a behaviour as complex as exercise requires specific self-regulatory skills to induce lasting behaviour change. The <strong>goal</strong> of my New Investigator Foundation program is to <strong>develop evidence-based self-regulatory interventions to increase independent exercise adherence in individuals with prediabetes that can be translated and sustained in community practice.</strong> </p> <p> <br> <strong>OBJECTIVE 1:</strong> Create feasible self-regulatory interventions that increase independent exercise in individuals with prediabetes.<br> </p> <p> <strong>OBJECTIVE 2:</strong> Establish and direct a community-based, prediabetes behaviour-change program dedicated to improving self-regulation skills, and provide ongoing evaluation of its reach, efficacy, fidelity, and sustainability.<br> </p> <p> <strong>OBJECTIVE 3:</strong> Coordinate T2D stakeholders (health authority representatives, diabetes education centres, physicians, researchers, and patients) in the BC Interior to enhance diabetes prevention efforts through translation and uptake of evidence-based health behaviour change techniques into clinical practice.<br> </p> <p> <strong>Research Outcomes and Impact:</strong> <br> Obj. #1 involves a series of studies that will develop and test the efficacy and saliency of self-regulatory interventions (e.g., self-monitoring, brief exercise counselling, real-time feedback) for individuals with prediabetes. These skill-building interventions will be combined in Obj. #2 to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based behaviour change program to make lasting lifestyle changes in the community. Knowledge translation (KT) products developed under Obj. #3 will include an evidence-based behaviour change toolkit designed to bolster independent exercise in individuals with prediabetes (year 3), a conference for diabetes educators utilizing the toolkit (year 4), and establishment of the first-ever Diabetes Prevention Network in BC (years 4 and 5), further expanding outlets for dissemination of behaviour change materials.<br> </p> <p> <strong>Core Expertise:</strong> <br> I have significant experience in leading and managing research on exercise and self-regulation as Principal Investigator (PI) on 6 funded RCTs, with over 1,000 total participants. I have assembled 6 Program Experts, with expertise in KT, mHealth (mobile health) apps for T2D, biostatistics, exercise measurement, and diabetes clinical practice guidelines who will contribute to the success of the proposed program. In addition, three strategic partners with influential links throughout BC will assist with our recruitment and KT efforts.<br> </p> <p> <strong>Mentoring and Training Plan:</strong> <br> My training philosophy is to lead by example, provide experiential learning opportunities, and encourage independence. Key activities to facilitate both academic and non-academic careers of trainees include: establishment of a faculty-wide <em>Gender Equity in Health Sciences Seminar Series</em> to mentor aspiring women health scientists; providing opportunities for teaching, leading community presentations and outreach activities; and access to grant writing, manuscript reviews, and team grant planning meetings. A CIHR Foundation grant will permit continued attraction of high-quality PhD students and post-doctoral fellows (PDFs) to my lab, where I can offer involvement in several funded trials in a highly productive research environment.</p> </body> </html>