Objective: Examine user perceptions of the Mind Your Heart (MYH) program, a mindful eating and nutrition education program delivered via an eHealth system.
Methods: Sixteen participants (41.5 ± 13.1 years) completed sample MYH lessons over 3 weeks. We examined changes in mindfulness from the State Mindfulness Scale via text messages sent 3 times per week. We assessed MYH user perceptions in a semistructured interview after 3 weeks. Analyses included Spearman's correlation, repeated measures ANOVA, and thematic analysis.
Results: State Mindfulness Scale scores were significantly improved (F[1,15] = 5.35, P = 0.01) from week 1 (M = 2.28 ± 0.80) to week 3 (M = 2.75 ± 1.04). Four themes emerged: (1) MYH is supportive of health goals, (2) text messages act as an intervention, (3) facilitators or inhibitors of use, and (4) enhancing engagement.
Conclusions and implications: Based on participant feedback, the final version of MYH should include example-based learning to translate abstract concepts like mindful eating into action.
Keywords: hypertension; mindful eating; nutrition education; virtual health promotion programs; workplace health promotion programs.
Published by Elsevier Inc.