Diabetes RiskNCT07720245
Effectiveness of a Self-health Assessment Mobile Application in Young-to-midlife Adults in Hong Kong
A study testing Wellnuts app intervention and Web-based health resources in people with Diabetes Risk and CVD Risk, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This project aims to compare the effectiveness of Wellnuts, an evidence-based, algorithm-driven self-health assessment mobile application, in empowering asymptomatic young-to-midlife adults in Hong Kong, promoting health awareness, and improving health-seeking behaviour and linkage-to-care, compared with conventional… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Diabetes Risk, CVD Risk, Colorectal Cancer
- What is being tested?
- Wellnuts app intervention and Web-based health resources
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 574 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2024to 31 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 25 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Hong Kong residents self-reported age of 25-65 years;
- Possesses a smartphone capable of running mobile apps (e.g. Android or iPhone) and;
- Able to read either English or Chinese.
Who cannot join
- Individuals having any symptoms or feeling unwell in anyways as detailed in the Disclaimer at the launch of the app; or
- Individuals reporting a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, hepatitis B, colorectal cancer, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, depression, anxiety and mild cognitive impairment and memory loss.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
District Health Centre/Expresses (DHC/E) in Yau Tsim Mong, Sha Tin and Kwai Tsing
Hong Kong
Yongle Zhan, PhD, 852-25185656, levon@hku.hk
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of Self-health Assessment Mobile Application to Promote Health Awareness, Empower Patients and Improve Linkage-to-care Amongst Young-to-midlife Adults in Hong Kong: a Randomised Controlled Trial
This project aims to compare the effectiveness of Wellnuts, an evidence-based, algorithm-driven self-health assessment mobile application, in empowering asymptomatic young-to-midlife adults in Hong Kong, promoting health awareness, and improving health-seeking behaviour and linkage-to-care, compared with conventional web-based health resources. Participants will be randomly allocated to the mobile health intervention group (Wellnuts app with self-health assessment and health information) and the conventional web-based resources control group (health information from Centre for Health Protection website). Hopefully, population health will be improved with the general health promotion impact from the app.
Read the detailed description
The project is a mobile intervention that aims to promote health-seeking behaviour and linkage-to-care among asymptomatic young-to-midlife individuals in Hong Kong. In collaboration with The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon (LST), the app can be disseminated to large groups of people at relatively lower cost and address workforce and equity issues- accessing the difficult-to-reach groups. LST is a charitable organisation providing quality and diversified social, medical as well as educational services to the general population, especially for the underprivileged, with more than 50 multifunctional subsidiaries in Hong Kong. With promotion by LST, the app can outreach and benefit more people by offering more personalised and tailored advice compared to the conventional web-based resources.
Population health will be improved with the general health promotion impact from the app. Once this project validates the effectiveness of the app, and as the usage and availability of the app become more wide-reaching, it will benefit the general health of the local community in the long run. Increased awareness of common health conditions and associated modifiable behavioural risk factors will help reduce disease burden in the general community. Healthcare expenditure represents a massive social and financial burden for individuals and society. The creation of an algorithm-driven mobile app providing accurate and tailored health information to users regarding their personal risks through self-assessment components may generate interest from the community. This, in turn, would have a positive effect on modifiable behavioural risk factors awareness, promoting a personalised and modern solution to reducing healthcare burden.
This project will enhance our understanding of the challenges to behaviour modification of Hong Kong people. Through comprehensive surveys, we will be able to deepen our understanding of the challenges which make behavioral change difficult. The mobile app data and feedback from app users over time could inform policymakers and health services management on the facilitators and barriers to using mobile apps as an intervention and medium for health promotion. The findings will help the healthcare system keep up with the evolving demands and behaviors of patients in Hong Kong, as the region truly enters into the digital economy and age.
As mobile health intervention is a new and innovative approach, people may take some time to adopt it. However, previous research has reported the interests of people with different demographics in accessing health interventions on digital devices. Since mobile health interventions were user-friendly and effective at improving health outcomes, they can empower patients to seek help and improve linkage-to-care in order to address the ever-growing issue of chronic health conditions in Hong Kong.
In summary, mobile interventions are relatively new with mixed evidence for their effectiveness. Early studies based on specific groups, countries or diseases have shown promising results. Our study will be the first to examine a bilingual, technologically competent population in Hong Kong. The project is an eHealth intervention and could reach a large audience at a relatively low cost, which is not possible with traditional interventions delivered through centers or clinics.
- Conditions
- Diabetes Risk, CVD Risk, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, HBV
- Being tested
- Wellnuts app intervention, Web-based health resources
- Keywords
- Self-health assessment, Mobile application, Health awareness, Health empowerment, Linkage-to-care, Chronic disease, Randomised control trial, Hong Kong
- Medical subject headings
- Colorectal Neoplasms, Lung Neoplasms, Chronic Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Wellnuts app interventionOther
The app adopts an evidence-based and algorithm-driven self-health assessment approach. It is designed to help participants assess their health risks, increase health awareness and encourage appropriate health-seeking behaviour. The app provides self-health assessment related to common health conditions and modifiable behavioural risk factors. Participants assessed as "at-risk" are provided with relevant recommendations, including recommended tests and follow-up actions where appropriate.
Web-based health resourcesOther
Conventional web-based health resources are from the Centre for Health Protection website which was run by the Department of Health (https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/25/index.html). These resources provide general health information and links to relevant support groups.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Participants allocated to the intervention group will use the Wellnuts mobile application. Receives: Other: Wellnuts app intervention |
| Control group | Active comparator | Participants allocated to the control group will receive access to conventional web-based health resources from the Centre for Health Protection website which is run by the Department of Health. Receives: Other: Web-based health resources |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Proportion of participants who sought medical assistance
Measured: 3 months and 6 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
Proportion of healthy lifestyle behaviours
Lifestyle behaviours will be collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Healthy lifestyle behaviours include no tobacco smoking, no alcohol drinking, frequent physical activity, and diverse food intake.
Measured: 3 months and 6 months
Proportion of participants who attended the follow-up tests after being assessed as "at risk" by the mobile app
Measured: 3 months and 6 months
Level of satisfaction with the project
Level of satisfaction with the project will be evaluated using a five-point Likert item (very disappointed, disappointed, neutral, satisfied, very satisfied).
Measured: 3 months and 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jul 2026
- Study start1 Jun 2024
- Primary completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Diabetes RiskStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 574 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, William Chi Wai Wong, The University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- William Chi Wai Wong, MD, Principal investigator, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07720245
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 07220148
- Other IDs
- 07220148
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 22 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Self-health Assessment Mobile Application to Promote Health Awareness, Empower Patients and Improve Linkage-to-care Amongst Young-to-midlife Adults in Hong Kong: a Randomised Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07720245
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 07220148
- Conditions
- Diabetes Risk, CVD Risk, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, HBV
- Keywords
- Self-health assessment, Mobile application, Health awareness, Health empowerment, Linkage-to-care, Chronic disease, Randomised control trial, Hong Kong
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 574 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This project aims to compare the effectiveness of Wellnuts, an evidence-based, algorithm-driven self-health assessment mobile application, in empowering asymptomatic young-to-midlife adults in Hong Kong, promoting health awareness, and improving health-seeking behaviour and linkage-to-care, compared with conventional web-based health resources. Participants will be randomly allocated to the mobile health intervention group (Wellnuts app with self-health assessment and health information) and the conventional web-based resources control group (health information from Centre for Health Protection website). Hopefully, population health will be improved with the general health promotion impact from the app.
Detailed description
The project is a mobile intervention that aims to promote health-seeking behaviour and linkage-to-care among asymptomatic young-to-midlife individuals in Hong Kong. In collaboration with The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon (LST), the app can be disseminated to large groups of people at relatively lower cost and address workforce and equity issues- accessing the difficult-to-reach groups. LST is a charitable organisation providing quality and diversified social, medical as well as educational services to the general population, especially for the underprivileged, with more than 50 multifunctional subsidiaries in Hong Kong. With promotion by LST, the app can outreach and benefit more people by offering more personalised and tailored advice compared to the conventional web-based resources.
Population health will be improved with the general health promotion impact from the app. Once this project validates the effectiveness of the app, and as the usage and availability of the app become more wide-reaching, it will benefit the general health of the local community in the long run. Increased awareness of common health conditions and associated modifiable behavioural risk factors will help reduce disease burden in the general community. Healthcare expenditure represents a massive social and financial burden for individuals and society. The creation of an algorithm-driven mobile app providing accurate and tailored health information to users regarding their personal risks through self-assessment components may generate interest from the community. This, in turn, would have a positive effect on modifiable behavioural risk factors awareness, promoting a personalised and modern solution to reducing healthcare burden.
This project will enhance our understanding of the challenges to behaviour modification of Hong Kong people. Through comprehensive surveys, we will be able to deepen our understanding of the challenges which make behavioral change difficult. The mobile app data and feedback from app users over time could inform policymakers and health services management on the facilitators and barriers to using mobile apps as an intervention and medium for health promotion. The findings will help the healthcare system keep up with the evolving demands and behaviors of patients in Hong Kong, as the region truly enters into the digital economy and age.
As mobile health intervention is a new and innovative approach, people may take some time to adopt it. However, previous research has reported the interests of people with different demographics in accessing health interventions on digital devices. Since mobile health interventions were user-friendly and effective at improving health outcomes, they can empower patients to seek help and improve linkage-to-care in order to address the ever-growing issue of chronic health conditions in Hong Kong.
In summary, mobile interventions are relatively new with mixed evidence for their effectiveness. Early studies based on specific groups, countries or diseases have shown promising results. Our study will be the first to examine a bilingual, technologically competent population in Hong Kong. The project is an eHealth intervention and could reach a large audience at a relatively low cost, which is not possible with traditional interventions delivered through centers or clinics.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Other: Wellnuts app interventionParticipants allocated to the intervention group will use the Wellnuts mobile application. |
| Control group | Active comparator | Other: Web-based health resourcesParticipants allocated to the control group will receive access to conventional web-based health resources from the Centre for Health Protection website which is run by the Department of Health. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Hong Kong residents self-reported age of 25-65 years;
- Possesses a smartphone capable of running mobile apps (e.g. Android or iPhone) and;
- Able to read either English or Chinese.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Individuals having any symptoms or feeling unwell in anyways as detailed in the Disclaimer at the launch of the app; or
- Individuals reporting a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, hepatitis B, colorectal cancer, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, depression, anxiety and mild cognitive impairment and memory loss.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Wellnuts app interventionThe app adopts an evidence-based and algorithm-driven self-health assessment approach. It is designed to help participants assess their health risks, increase health awareness and encourage appropriate health-seeking behaviour. The app provides self-health assessment related to common health conditions and modifiable behavioural risk factors. Participants assessed as "at-risk" are provided with relevant recommendations, including recommended tests and follow-up actions where appropriate. | Other | Intervention group |
| Web-based health resourcesConventional web-based health resources are from the Centre for Health Protection website which was run by the Department of Health (https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/25/index.html). These resources provide general health information and links to relevant support groups. | Other | Control group |
Primary outcome
Proportion of participants who sought medical assistance
Time frame: 3 months and 6 months
3 secondary outcomes
Proportion of healthy lifestyle behaviours
Time frame: 3 months and 6 months
Proportion of participants who attended the follow-up tests after being assessed as "at risk" by the mobile app
Time frame: 3 months and 6 months
Level of satisfaction with the project
Time frame: 3 months and 6 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
William Chi Wai Wong, MD principal investigator
The University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Wellnuts app intervention and Web-based health resources in people with Diabetes Risk and CVD Risk, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Levon Yongle Zhan, PhD (852-25185656, levon@hku.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Proportion of participants who sought medical assistance (time frame: 3 months and 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Jul 2026.