Large-scale research study finds RedBrick Journeys™ reduce biometric health risks, improve health habits

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RedBrick Health, a fast-growing leader in consumer health engagement and behavior change, today announced results of a research study that followed over 180,000 consumers with respect to their health habits.

Those at elevated risk who took a RedBrick Journey were significantly more likely to have clinically meaningful reductions in weight, blood pressure and non-HDL cholesterol than a demographically similar comparison group. Improvements were also observed in physical activity, nutrition and stress when comparing follow-up to baseline measures in these areas.

The RedBrick Journeys Cohort Study compared professionally collected health screening measurements taken at baseline and approximately one year later, at the end of the study period. Measures included weight, blood pressure and non-HDL cholesterol. Health Assessments completed roughly concurrently with health screenings at both intervals measured daily physical activity levels, daily eating habits, and perceived stress levels and coping habits.

"Few digital health behavior change interventions have been carefully studied across large cohorts with the benefit of actual biometric pre- and post-measures, rather than relying solely on self-reported data," said Jeff Dobro, MD, RedBrick Health's chief medical officer and co-investigator in the study. "The results we found were striking and consistent. When consumers engage repeatedly in small, habit-forming steps that they choose, with the benefit of personalized digital nudges, we see clinical improvement, especially among those with elevated health risks."

Among consumers with elevated health risks, meaningful improvements in health measurements were seen with even modest levels of engagement, and even when the focus of engagement was in a different, but related, lifestyle area. 

For example, those with a baseline Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher—a BMI indicative of clinical obesity—who simply began a Journey during the study period were 23% more likely to lose at least 5% of their body weight. Completing a Journey, regardless of its focus, led to a 37% greater likelihood to drop this much weight. Those who completed a weight loss-focused Journey were 42% more likely to reduce their weight by 5% or more.  A weight reduction of 5% is generally considered to be clinically meaningful.

Similar patterns of improvement were observed among those with high baseline non-HDL cholesterol of 160 or higher and among those with moderately elevated blood pressure over 120/80. 

Participants with elevated lifestyle-related risk due to lack of physical activity or poor eating habits also showed statistically significant improvement associated with starting any Journey. The largest improvements were found among those who completed a Journey with a specific focus in their area of elevated behavioral risk.

"When we first designed RedBrick Journeys, we believed that we could help consumers create new habits more effectively than traditional, content-heavy online programs or 'pep-talk and brochure' coaching approaches," said Eric Zimmerman, chief marketing officer. "Our read on the evidence suggested that combining consumer choice, adaptive data analytics, rich, small-step content and frequent digital accountability loops would yield better engagement and stronger behavioral outcomes. We've seen that happen along the way, but now we have our first glimpse at the clinical impact on objective biometrics across a large population."

RedBrick Journeys use preference and performance data on each participant to provide specific small step suggestions within a game-like choice framework. Each small commitment can be amplified by easy one-click sharing via a variety of popular social networks as well as email. Nudges, or behavioral 'triggers' get delivered on a timely and personalized basis via mobile text messages or email. Journey steps make use of video, images and carefully curated content developed and performance-tuned by RedBrick's behavior design team. Sponsor-specific incentives can be tied to individual achievements, such as simply starting or personalizing a Journey or reaching a behavioral milestone.

Past RedBrick research has found that consumers engage in Journeys more frequently and longer than traditional online programs. They complete two to three small steps each week and commit to over 20 distinct behavioral steps on their way to forming a new habit.

RedBrick produces an ongoing stream of new Journeys, with more than 60 titles available. Journeys are presented alongside other intervention modalities to emphasize choice, with multiple Journeys offered in each focus area to maximize personal relevance. Instead of offering a generic nutrition program, RedBrick offers behaviorally specific Journeys such as "Cart Hero," "Eating for Energy" and "Dine Out: Take Charge." Other Journeys like "Coach Kids to Eat Healthier" help increase impact by engaging the entire family.

In addition to eating well, Journeys cover topics like getting active, sleeping well, reducing stress, keeping your back and heart healthy, keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol in check and having a healthy pregnancy. Consumers can also access content developed specifically for living successfully with conditions like diabetes and asthma.

Recently added Journey titles apply the RedBrick habit formation technology to new topic areas. The Power Patient series features simple steps to become an engaged and confident healthcare consumer. RedBrick has fully integrated price and quality transparency searches into its "Smart Health Shopper" Journey, letting consumers practice searching for doctors, services or prescriptions using their own local providers, informed by their own health benefit plan design and status.

"Conventional wisdom says use digital resources only for the low risk populations and push higher risk individuals into more intensive phone coaching," observes Dr. Dobro. "Our findings suggest that well-designed digital coaching interventions like Journeys can be effective for those at elevated risk, especially when the mode of engagement is the participant's choice. We're now using them even when we do live coaching, letting the Journeys become the homework that helps make the phone or live coaching even more effective."

About RedBrick Health

RedBrick Health is a consumer health engagement company that helps organizations create real behavior change. By combining behavioral and clinical expertise with adaptive technology and an open platform we produce a more personal experience in web, mobile and live interactions. The company serves large, self-insured employers, insurers, providers, brokers and strategic distribution partners. Visit RedBrick at redbrickhealth.com, read more at healthinnovationblog.com or follow the company at twitter.com/redbrickhealth.

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SOURCE RedBrick Health

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