MIELITEKO Lifestyle Intervention Study

"All participants in the intervention group receive access to the BitHabit app for the 1-year intervention period. The BitHabit app was designed in the StopDia project, and it aims to help its users to adopt healthier lifestyles and habits.The content and approach of the app is based on habit formation theories and the Self-Determination Theory. The app provides an extensive library of suggested lifestyle habits that was created according to lifestyle guidelines and recommendations. The habits are related to diet, physical activity, sleep, positive mood, stress management, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Users of the app select these habits from the library to their shopping basket to complete in their everyday life. The app also allows the users to report and monitor their performance and progress."

The group-based healthy lifestyle intervention is based on the Supportive Environment Theory (SET). The intervention is implemented in accordance with DiClemente and Prochaska's Stages-of-Change Model which is often used as framework for lifestyle change as well as Shazer and Berg's Solution Focused Brief Therapy. We expect participants to increase knowledge about healthy lifestyle choices and notice the beneficial effect of exercise, healthy diet and staying in nature. The intervention includes 12 to 16 hours of group activities during a period of 8 weeks. Interventions comprehend guided activities in nature, related to healthy relationship to food and exercise, as well as reflecting on shared experiences. In addition to group meetings, participants have access to material for mental well-being on an electronic learning environment.

The individual-level healthy lifestyle intervention follows the principles and theoretical background of the group-based intervention, but the intervention is carried out entirely on the electronic learning environment. The participants complete activities and exercises independently or with a friend in their own time.

The mini-intervention for substance use follows the principle of the ASSIST-linked brief intervention created by WHO. This brief intervention is a phone-call lasting 3 to 15 minutes and given to the participant according to their risk score calculated with the ASSIST questionnaire which is included in the baseline survey. The intervention includes presenting the participant with their test score and associated health problems related to their level of risk. Especially in primary health care context, brief intervention according to the ASSIST score has been found to be successful in moderating risk for substance use. The intervention is not intended as a stand-alone treatment and in cases where high risk substance use is detected, the professional should encourage the participant to seek specialized drug and alcohol assessment and treatment.