Active Patient GDM

Our overarching aim is to determine, among women with gestational diabetes (GDM), if a strategy of (1) a website-based information and motivational resource bank; (2) biosensor/ePlatform-based physical activity and gestational weight gain (GWG) tracking; and/or (3) a health coach will lead to more favourable outcomes; namely, GWG closer to target, higher physical activity levels, better glycemic and blood pressure control, and lower incidence of large for gestational age (LGA) in offspring.

The current project is designed to assess feasibility and usability to inform the development of a large randomized controlled trial. The specific aims of this feasibility study are:

1. To determine the proportion of candidates with GDM who accept to participate in the study at each site (recruitment rates); a minimum overall average recruitment rate of 25/month would favour proceeding to a larger trial.
2. To evaluate participant use (log ins) and perceived utility (interviews) of the website resource that the investigators are developing; a minimum average of 5 log-ins overall would favour proceeding to a larger trial
3. To determine use (number of planned weekly conversations completed) and perceived utility (interviews) of the health coaching intervention; a minimum completion of 50% of the planned weekly conversations would favour retaining this treatment arm in a larger trial
4. To determine use (data upload of step counts and weight data onto ePlatform) and perceived utility (interviews) of the ePlatform intervention ; a minimal upload of 30% of days overall of data would favour retaining this treatment arm in a larger trial
5. To assess the proportion of participants in each intervention arm who complete final evaluation procedures (loss to follow-up rates); a minimum retention of 75% of participants enrolled would favour execution of a larger clinical trial

DESIGN Lawson ACTIVE PATIENT has a 2X2 factorial design. All participants will have access to the information and motivational resource bank, housed on a dedicated study website. Each participant will be randomized (1) to an ePlatform yes/no strategy and (2) to a health coach yes/no strategy. Therefore, some participants will have access to the website only, others to the website \& ePlatform, others to the website \& coach, and some to the website, ePlatform \& coach. By interviewing and surveying participants in each of these groups, the investigators will be able to ascertain if there are components that are redundant or synergistic.

RESOURCE BANK The website sections include (1) 'About' with an overview about GDM, its management, and its complications; (2) 'Perspectives' with video and audio clips and interviews with mothers with a GDM history, physicians, dietitians, and kinesiologists, all describing their experiences living with or managing GDM and highlighting the importance of attending to this condition both during pregnancy and thereafter; (3) 'Nutrition' with descriptions and discussion of impact of eating on glucose control, illustration of the 'healthy plate' concepts, grocery shopping tips, links to healthy recipe banks, a photographic repository of health snack ideas, healthy lunches, and healthy breakfasts; (4) 'Activity' with explanations for pedometer use, step count targets, physical activity targets, step and physical activity monitoring, links to exercise video clips, precautions during pregnancy; and (5) 'Postpartum' which will include future diabetes risk facts relevant to mothers, fathers, and children; diabetes prevention approaches; and planning for future pregnancies.

ePLATFORM WITH SENSORS Participants randomized to the ePlatform strategy (i.e., 50% of participants) will receive a digital scale, physical activity monitor (pedometer), and ePlatform log-in information. They will track daily weights and step counts. They will receive prompts to access educational and motivational tools based on the data that they enter and whether or not they enter data. The investigators will use the ePlatform developed by StepsCount, a Canadian pedometer company with a well-developed ePlatform for pedometer data upload, tracking, and automated messaging. The company is permitting us further customization for study purposes. Participants randomized to the use of an ePlatform in combination with a pedometer and digital scale will have data uploaded onto a secure cloud-based platform controlled by the pedometer and digital scale companies.

HEALTH PROFESSIONAL COACH Participants randomized to the health coach strategy (i.e., 50% of participants) will work by telephone and email with a health coach. The coach will be a health professional hired through the study (dietitian/kinesiologist/nurse). On a weekly basis, She/he will contact the participant to discuss progress and challenges in terms of achieving physical activity goals, rate of GWG, and maintaining health eating patterns. She/he will respond to specific questions on strategies and interplay between health behaviours and parameters such as blood glucose and blood pressure levels. She/he may enquire about any problems associated with higher physical activity levels such as contractions or lower blood sugar levels, and will advise participants accordingly and consult with the treating physician. Participants not randomized to a coaching strategy will be advised to consult with their treating healthcare team directly if they develop symptoms of concern.

Fifty percent of participants will be randomized to a health coach. In turn, half of these participants will also be randomized to the ePlatform with sensors strategy. The health coaching approach will slightly differ between those randomized to the health coach \& ePlatform with biosensors strategy vs. those randomized to the health coach without ePlatform strategy.

For those randomized to the health coach \& ePlatform with biosensors strategy, the health coach will have access to the data on the ePlatform. This data transfer is termed facilitated relay, the exchange of patient collected health data between patients and providers outside of traditional clinic visits (i.e., electronic and web-based sharing).

Participants randomized to both the ePlatform and the health coach will receive telephone calls from the research assistant/health coach if they are off target despite the platform tools and support. They will be encouraged to consult the resource bank and will brainstorm with the health coach to decide how to achieve their GWG and step count targets.

Participants randomized to the health coach without the ePlatform will receive weekly calls from the health coach, encouraging them to engage in healthy eating practices and aim to achieve the GWG targets recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). They will be encouraged to track their weight gain and physical activity (e.g., walks, gym sessions, classes, activity lists, etc.) and to share this information with the health coach for discussion. However, they will not have access to the study ePlatform and will not be provided with pedometers or digital scales.

At least one coach will be trained for each of the recruitment sites (5). The training will consist of completion of 5 30-minute on-line modules supplemented by teleconferences with our team of experts in health behaviour change (J Fowles, C Shields, C Chan, A-S Brazeau, D Da Costa, K Dasgupta). The on-line training modules for health coaches address motivational communication, key content areas (GDM, health behaviours, stress management), review the bank of resources, discusses the decision trees/algorithms that will create triggers and alerts, and demonstrates navigation of the ePlatform.

SETTING GDM clinics in Montreal (McGill University Health Centre/MUHC with Dr Sara Meltzer, Dr Natasha Garfield, and Dr Rachel Bond; and Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal/CHUM with Dr Ariane Godbout and colleagues), Toronto (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre with Dr Illana Halparin, Dr Baiju Shah, and colleagues), Calgary (Rockyview General Hospital with Dr Sonia Butalia and colleagues), Winnipeg (Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg with Dr P Katz and colleagues), and Halifax (Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre with Dr Tom Ransom and colleagues).

RECRUITMENT GDM clinic staff will invite potentially eligible patients to consider participation. With their permission, contact information will be forwarded to the local ACTIVE PATIENT GDM research assistant. She/he will communicate with the participant to review study procedures and obtain informed consent through an on-line form and telephone conversation. The investigators aim to recruit and enroll at least 5 participants per month per site.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA See relevant section

RUN-IN PHASE AND RANDOMIZATION Participants will receive instructions to log onto an electronic platform. This will allow them to view a brief video on GDM-related complications. If the participant logs onto the system within a week of baseline assessment, web-based randomization will be performed. The participant will be encouraged to call or email the research assistant if there is difficulty logging on.

DATA COLLECTION See outcomes for baseline and final data collected

SAMPLE SIZE The investigators will recruit 225 participants across 5 cities, resulting in up to 45 participants per city over 9 months (to allow for 3 month intervention periods) or 5 participants per city per month. The present study is not designed to assess for between-arm differences in GWG or LGA status of the offspring. The intent is to gather experience with logistical procedures, participant perspectives, and estimates of indicators of feasibility.

INCENTIVES On three occasions (completion of the questionnaire at the beginning of the study, completion of the questionnaire and interview before delivery, and completion of the questionnaire and interview 12 weeks after delivery), participants will receive a $20 gift card.