Patterns of Engagement With an Application-Based Dietary Self-Monitoring Tool Within a Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial

•Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension is proven manage hypertension.•Commercial dietary tracking apps offer a way adhere DASH.•Understanding how individuals engage with diet important.•There are 2 latent classes of engagement: consistent engagers and disengagers.•Consistent were older, more educated, married. IntroductionThe Dietary pattern hypertension, but adherence remains low. applications highly disseminable self-monitor intake on the pathway reaching goals require engagement support behavior change. Few studies use longitudinal self-monitoring data assess trajectories predictors engagement. We used from participants in Cloud (N=59), feasibility trial improve quality among women identify explore associations between participant characteristics.MethodsWe class growth modeling publicly available application bivariate regression analyses classifications characteristics.ResultsWe identified disengagers. Consistent likely be married or living partner. Although exhibited slightly greater changes score, difference was not significant.ConclusionsThis study highlights an important yet underutilized methodologic approach for uncovering patterns. Understanding certain digital technologies step toward designing cost-effective change interventions.Trial registrationThis registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03215472.