A pre-post pilot feasibility study of the MindBia web-based nutrition intervention for individuals with severe mental illness: Study protocol

People living with severe mental illness experience substantial health inequalities and high rates of premature mortality, largely driven by modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors, including poor diet quality. Digital technologies may provide scalable and flexible opportunities to support healthier behaviours; however, few interventions have specifically targeted nutrition-related outcomes as a primary focus in this population. MindBia is a co-designed, web-based digital nutrition intervention consisting of six structured modules developed for individuals residing in high-support mental health hostels.

What the research examined

The intervention was informed by prior studies with service users and mental health staff. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the MindBia intervention over eight weeks. A mixed-method pre-post design will be employed.

What the findings mean

Participants will complete baseline and post-intervention assessments examining dietary behaviours, digital literacy, and general wellbeing. Engagement with the web-based application will be monitored using embedded usage analytics. Semi-structured interviews conducted post-intervention will explore participants' experiences, perceived impact, and barriers to engagement. Findings from this pilot study will inform refinement of the MindBia web-based application and guide the design of a larger scale trial evaluating its overall effectiveness.

Study authors: O'Sullivan C, Coppinger T, Dhanapala I, Boyle D, Merrotsy A.. This report is based on the openly licensed abstract and source record and has been formatted for newsroom reading.