WHAT IS TEXTBITES?​

We are trying to find out whether a healthy lifestyle program using text messages with optional health counselling will help young people, like you, to improve their health and wellbeing, and weight outcomes. It is important to test whether the TEXTBITES program is successful at preventing excess weight gain and improving health and wellbeing so we can provide programs to help create healthy life-long habits and prevent chronic diseases in young people. 

​

About 150 young people are expected to take part in the TEXTBITES study. It will take place at Westmead Hospital and The Children's Hospital at Westmead. 

​

CAN I PARTICIPATE IN TEXTBITES?

Young people aged 13-18 years who are above a healthy weight and own an active mobile phone can participate. Check your eligibility by taking this survey. 

​

WHAT WILL I HAVE TO DO IF I PARTICIPATE IN TEXTBITES? 

The TEXTBITES study runs for 12 months and during this time you will meet with the study team 3 times in- person or over the phone. If you decide to take part in the study, you and your parent and/or legal guardian will sign a consent form. You will then complete an enrolment visit (in- person or over the phone) where introductions will take place and we will record your information which will allow us to personalise text messages that will be sent to you. 

​

Sometimes we do not know which treatment is best for helping people to improve their health. To find out we need to compare different groups. The computer system will randomly (like flipping a coin) select you to either receive text messages right away (intervention group) or no messages until after the 12-month visit (control group). You will have a 50% chance of being in the intervention group or the control group. You will be told which group you fall into through a text message.

​

As part of the study, one-fifth of participants will be randomly selected to have their body composition measured at the enrolment and 6-month visit (in- person or over the phone). Another one-fifth of participants will be randomly selected wear an accelerometer. This is a small, matchbox-sized portable device that measures your physical activity. If you are selected for one of these groups, you will be told at your enrolment and 6-month visit (in- person or over the phone).

​

Even if you take part at the beginning and change your mind later on and don’t want to be a part of the study, that is okay as well.

​

For completing the baseline screening and randomisation, you will be reimbursed for your time with a $20 online gift voucher. As well, for completing 6-and/or 12-month study activities and follow-ups you will be reimbursed for your time with $50 online gift vouchers. Therefore, if you complete all study activities and follow-ups over the 12-months you will be offered a total of $120 in online gift vouchers. All gift cards are sent via email.

​

WHAT TYPE OF STUDY IS TEXTBITES?

Our study is a single-blind randomised controlled trial. This means the researchers do not know which group you are in. So please remember not to tell them! We designed the study this way to make sure the researchers read the results in a fair and suitable way. At the end of the study, the results are compared to see if receiving the text messages helps improve young people’s health and wellbeing, and weight more than not receiving any text messages. 

 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO INFORMATION I GIVE IN THE STUDY?

Information collected from you during the study will be stored in a secure web application called REDCap. This system is managed by the University of Sydney. It will be used by researchers to send out the text messages and analyse the information we collect during the study. The information could be used with information from other young people in reports or papers about the research. You will not be able to be identified in these reports or papers. The information you tell us will be treated confidentially in accordance with Australian privacy laws. Confidential information will be stored for a period of 15 years from the time of the study is completed. This information will only be accessible to study investigators. After 15 years, computer files will be deleted, and paper files will be shredded.

​

IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT ANSWERED HERE, PLEASE READ PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET OR FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US

​