De Mijn Hart Telt studie: onderzoek naar hart- en vaatziekten in Nederland

This is an app-based randomized intervention study in The Netherlands, studying the effectiveness of four smartphone coaching interventions in increasing daily activity. The app has been succesfully released by Stanford University, USA, however, the effect and feasibility of the app for use in The Netherlands has not been established yet. We will therefore also be performing a feasibility study. As well as that, we aim to study the association between determinants of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with self-reported cardiovascular health. Everybody in The Netherlands aged 18 and older is invited to join to MyHeart Counts.

The study of determinants of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is important because it provides insight in risks and opportunities to reduce the burden of CVD. A major gap in our current knowledge about CVD lies in the way we measure these determinants, for example physical activity. This is currently restricted to paper questionnaires and short-duration measurements. Here lies the potential for smartphone technology. The ResearchKit MyHeart Counts app allows researchers to collect data continuously and in large populations. Additionally, in-app coaching could stimulate a healthy lifestyle. However, the effect of different coaching levels on a smartphone is not yet known. The MyHeart Counts app has been released successfully in the USA by Stanford University. The effect and feasibility of this method for use in the Netherlands has not been established.

June 2018 - May 2021: study preparations, e.g. establishing electronic informed consent procedure, build a safe and legally adequate data exchange infrastructure, tailor app code to Dutch situation, implement Dutch cardiovasculair risk tool, etc.
May 2021: App launch, start of study

Different coaching promts (iPhone notifications)