2023 HDR Curtin round - Effect of a smartphone application on glycemic control for Vietnamese women with gestational diabetes mellitus: randomised controlled trial.

Updated: over 1 year ago
Location: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

Status: Open

Applications open: 8/07/2022
Applications close: 18/08/2022

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About this scholarship

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy (WHO, 2013), is a major public health problem and affects both mother and infant during pregnancy and in the long term. GDM is associated with pregnancy complications (Ye W, et al. BMJ 2022) and an accelerated risk of adverse health outcomes for both mothers and infants (including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, caesarean section, macrosomia, and neonatal hypoglycaemia). According to the International Diabetes Federation in 2021, one in every 7 pregnant women was affected by GDM worldwide (Wang H et al. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2022). GDM has a significant impact on individual health and healthcare systems, in terms of economic burden and quality of life. Our previous review showed that the prevalence of GDM was approximately 10% in eastern and south-eastern Asia (Nguyen CL et al. J Diabetes Res 2018). It is thus important to develop innovative approaches to regulating and controlling blood sugar levels among pregnant women to reduce the potential risk of adverse pregnancy and postpartum/longer-term health outcomes.
Lifestyle changes are instrumental in the management of GDM, and lifestyle modification (e.g., diet, physical activity and behavioural therapy) has been demonstrated effective in improving glucose regulation and postpartum weight management (Huang S, et al. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2022). The use of digital platforms such as the internet and mobile devices to deliver health behaviour interventions is increasing rapidly and has become integral part in achieving health objectives. For GDM education, although one-to-one counselling is ideal, it is time consuming, costly and difficult to implement and sustain in large areas/population. Mothers are now increasingly turning to the internet for information and personalised support for their own and infants’ health. Accordingly, mobile health (mHealth)-based interventions including smartphone applications may provide an effective means to improve regulating glucose levels in women with GDM. 
We have successfully developed a mobile application and conducted a double-blind randomised controlled trial through the implementation of the mobile application to promote breastfeeding in North Vietnam (Doan TTD, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17(15)). Given the high prevalence of GDM in Vietnam (~23%), it is necessary to develop novel interventions to effectively manage this condition for achieving better health and well-being of the mother and infant. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic underscores the importance of smartphone-based interventions in Vietnam, where around 93% of households owned a mobile phone in 2014 and the proportion is expected to surpass 95% for expectant and new mothers aged 18 to 40 years (General Statistics Office and UNICEF 2015). 
The aim of this proposal is to develop a smartphone app based on our previously developed breastfeeding app’s platform (iOS and Android), and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions delivered via this app among women with GDM in Vietnam. Specific objectives will be 1) to design and develop a mobile smartphone application for women with GDM; 2) to conduct a randomised controlled trial to assess whether the app-based intervention in addition to standard care will significantly better regulate glucose levels and glycemic control at 36-week pregnancy, discharge, and 3- and 6-month postpartum, compared with standard care only; 3) to assess the outcomes (glucose level, birthweight, mode of delivery, maternal weight changes, complications) in the intervention and control group.
The methodology of this proposed project will build on our approach implemented previously. We will recruit pregnant women with recognised risk factors for GDM at weeks 24–28 of gestation, who seek prenatal care at three hospitals we have connection with, namely Dong Anh District Hospital, Hanoi Gynaecology & Obstetric Hospital (in the north) and Hung Vuong Hospital (in the south). GDM will be determined according to International Association of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group’s Criteria. We will engage IT specialists who designed our prior breastfeeding app to develop the proposed GDM app; maternal and child health experts will also be involved in the development of intervention arm. Baseline survey will be undertaken at the time of enrolment (24-28 gestation weeks), and eligible subject will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group (interventional components and standard care) or control one (standard care only) using REDCap. The endpoints (glycemic control status, pregnancy, maternal and infant’s postpartum health at discharge, 3 and 6 months) will be investigated and compared between the two arms. Data collection will be conducted via face-to-face complemented with telephone interviews. The REDCap will be used to enrol participants, secure and manage data. Statistical data analyses will be performed using Stata/SPSS. 

An Internship opportunity may also be available with this project.


  • Future Students

  • Faculty of Health Sciences

  • Higher Degree by Research

  • Australian Citizen
  • Australian Permanent Resident
  • New Zealand Citizen
  • Permanent Humanitarian Visa
  • International Student

  • Merit Based

The annual scholarship package (stipend and tuition fees) is approx. $60,000 - $70,000 p.a.

 

Successful HDR applicants for admission will receive a 100% fee offset for up to 4 years, stipend scholarships, valued at $28,854 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3.5 years, are determined via a competitive selection process. Applicants will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2022. 

 

For detailed information, visit: Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia.


Scholarship Details

1


All applicable HDR courses


We will be seeking a Health Science graduate who has a background training in public health or preventive medicine. The candidate should have gained practical experience in undertaking research in maternal health, particularly with the use of mHealth approach. It is imperative that the candidate is knowledgeable about fundamentals of epidemiology and biostatistical methods, in addition to possessing well-developed skills for longitudinal data using common statistical software (Stata, SPSS). The ability to use REDCap for data collection and management is desirable. Advanced scientific writing skills in English and the ability to work independently are vitally important to the project. 


Application process

If this project excites you, and your research skills and experience are a good fit for this specific project, you should contact the Project Lead (listed below in the enquires section) via the Expression of Interest (EOI) form. ahead of the closing date.


Enrolment Requirements

Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2023


Enquiries

To enquire about this project opportunity that includes a scholarship application, contact the Project lead, Associate Professor Yun Zhao via the EOI form above.



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