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Designing, testing and implementing widespread use of text-messages to signpost people to weight-management services across the East of England.
Cancer causes one in six deaths worldwide. Changing health behaviours, such as dietary intake, alcohol consumption, tobacco use and physical activity can prevent almost 40% of cancers. However, there are barriers to implementing effective interventions that support behaviour change.
The eSign study will use text-messages to signpost people to weight-management services across the East of England. People who may benefit from weight-management services will be identified through hospital and GP electronic health records. By raising awareness of behaviour change support in more effective ways, electronic signposting (e-signposting) could improve the reach of services and ultimately prevent cancer and cancer disparities.
We will:
Review the literature to determine what type of electronic signposting works, for whom, in what circumstances, and how.
Co-design the content of text-messages and the timing of their delivery with people interested in weight management support, health professionals referring patients to weight-management support, and data scientists managing electronic health records, to develop and refine e-signposting.
Determine the most effective text-message content and delivery mechanisms for signposting people to weight management support.
Map the regional weight-management system to explore different ways of implementing e-signposting in healthcare settings – to maximise its spread and adoption.
Develop a toolkit to support healthcare organisations to implement and evaluate e-signposting.
Our experts-by-experience are adults living with overweight and obesity and interested in weight-management support.
We tested the feasibility of e-signposting to smoking cessation and alcohol reduction apps at West Suffolk hospital (OptiMine study). The published findings of this study led to the development of the eSign study.
The eSign study started in June 2024 and will last 6 years.