E-therapeutic Program for Obese Adolescents
E-therapeutic Program for Obese Adolescents
This study aims to:

 I. Determine the e-therapeutic intervention program effectiveness compared with the standard
 treatment protocol, on both the behavioural change (treatment adherence and promotion of
 healthy lifestyles) and health impact (weight control and quality of life), based on a
 population of adolescents followed at Paediatric Obesity Clinic (POC) of Hospital de Santa
 Maria (HSM), Lisbon (Portugal).

 II. Evaluate the health profile, treatment adherence, lifestyle and impact of weight on
 quality of life of this population.

 III. Test the usability of an e-therapeutic platform for obese adolescents and their
 families.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have been identified as important tools,
 allowing for health gains and reducing costs. They have been associated with positive results
 in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, equity, accessibility and quality of the provided
 care/services (Alcañiz et al., 2009; Baulch et al., 2008; Cottrell, 2005; Grohol, 1999). The
 existence of accurate, reliable, structured and relevant information, available when and
 where is needed, enables professionals and consumers to make informed and timely decisions
 (High Commissioner for Health, 2010; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,
 2010).

 This project was designed according to the national guidelines (Direção-Geral da Saúde,
 2005), and has the potential to become a relevant educational and intervention instrument.
 Its content may be adapted to the needs and expectations of target groups. Strategies as
 problem solving reinforced by the e-therapeutic programme may enable participants to overcome
 barriers to adherence and thereby enhance treatment-induced weight losses (Murawski et al.,
 2009). Moreover, this project will allow to: a) Obtain relevant information about patients
 and their progress, enabling health professionals to interpret the inputs and send feedback
 in real time, b) Tailor therapeutic strategies to individual responses, c) Monitor individual
 progress.

 This study is designed as a randomized clinical trial. The experimental group will follow the
 standard treatment protocol and, additionally, receive free access to the e-therapeutic
 platform (Next.Step) for 24 weeks. The control group participants will follow the standard
 treatment protocol and join a waiting list for entering the Next.Step.

 Based on the literature review and on the contribution of the Nola Pender's Health Promotion
 reference model (Pender et al., 2010), investigators will look for empirical evidence for the
 general investigation hypothesis: treatment adherence, healthy lifestyles, quality of life
 and weight control of obese adolescents are positively influenced by this intervention
 program.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  patients from POC/HSM

 -  aged between 12 and 18 years

 -  BMI percentile ≥ 95th

 -  internet access at least once a week

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  presence of severe psychopathology

 -  inability to communicate in writing

 -  pregnancy

 -  having been proposed for bariatric surgery