Trial Review

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Trial registered on ANZCTR


Registration number
Help: Registration number
ACTRN12626001136392
Ethics application status
Help: Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
Help: Date submitted
17/08/2026
Date registered
Help: Date registered
11/09/2026
Date last updated
Help: Date last updated
11/09/2026
Date data sharing statement initially provided
Help: Data sharing statement date
11/09/2026
Type of registration
Help: Type of registration
Retrospectively registered

Titles & IDs
Public title
A Culturally Centred AI Nutrition Coaching Intervention to Optimise Heart Health in Pacific Adults
Scientific title
A Culturally Centred AI Nutrition Coaching Intervention to Optimise Heart Health in Pacific Adults
Additional trial identifiers [1] 318054 0
Nil known
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
Trial acronym
Related trial records

Health condition
Health condition(s) studied:
Cardiovascular disease 343253 0
Condition category
Condition code
Public Health 339364 339364 0 0
Health promotion/education
Diet and Nutrition 339523 339523 0 0
Other diet and nutrition disorders
Cardiovascular 339595 339595 0 0
Coronary heart disease

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Interventional
Description of the intervention or exposure
This project will develop and validate an innovative care model using a chat-based, generative artificial intelligence AI Nutrition Coach designed by Speedback for Samoan and Tongan adults with long-term conditions. Accessible through WhatsApp, the Nutrition Coach will support food logging and provide instant advice in Gagana Samoa and Lea Faka-Tonga.

Phase 1: Co-design and adaptation of the AI Nutrition Coach

We will work with Samoan and Tongan community members, language experts, health professionals, and current users of the AI Nutrition Coach (powered by Speedback) to adapt the tool so it is culturally and linguistically appropriate. This phase will be completed over six-eight months.
Activities will include:
- Establishing an advisory group to guide the project.
- The research team will conduct talanoa sessions with Samoan and Tongan adults who have used the English version of the AI Nutrition Coach. Each talanoa session (two) of up to 2 hours, scheduled one week apart in person, will be undertaken to review the prototype,
- Adapting translations, cultural content, imagery, and examples.
- Reviewing the adapted version with experts and community members.
- Refining the tool based on feedback.
- Conducting small-scale pre-testing of the adapted version.

Phase 2: Testing the adapted AI Nutrition Coach
A new cohort of up to 50 Samoan and Tongan adults will be invited to use the adapted AI Nutrition Coach for two weeks. During this phase:
- Participants will receive in-person support from the research team to access and use the tool (baseline)
- Participants will use the AI Nutrition Coach as part of their daily lives at least once per day for 5 minutes during the 2 weeks. Example activities include taking photos and recording their meals, asking the AI coach questions or advice about their meal choices.
- Feedback will be collected on the tool's usability, acceptability, cultural relevance, language, and overall experience (2 weeks). Adherence will be measured using the tool database to determine logins and time spent using the tool
- The research team will use participant feedback to make final improvements to the AI Nutrition Coach.

The findings from both phases will be used to develop a culturally appropriate AI Nutrition Coach for Samoan and Tongan communities.
Intervention code [1] 335093 0
Lifestyle
Intervention code [2] 335203 0
Treatment: Devices
Description of the comparator or control
No control group
Control group
Uncontrolled

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 346568 0
Participant satisfaction
Timepoint [1] 346568 0
Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire at completion of the pilot which will be 2 weeks post-intervention completion in Phase 2.
Secondary outcome [1] 466424 0
Participants’ perceptions on tool usability
Timepoint [1] 466424 0
At the completion of the intervention which may be between 2 – 4 weeks post-intervention completion in Phase 2.
Secondary outcome [2] 467465 0
Participants’ perceptions on tool acceptability.
Timepoint [2] 467465 0
At the completion of the intervention which may be between 2 – 4 weeks post-intervention completion in Phase 2.

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
• Age 18 years or older
• Self-identify as Samoan or Tongan (or both).
• Reside in Auckland (Phase 2 pre-test).
• Own a mobile phone with WhatsApp installed and internet access.
• Able and willing to provide informed consent in English, Gagana Samoa, or Lea Faka-Tonga.
Minimum age
18 Years
Maximum age
No limit
Sex
Both males and females
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Key exclusion criteria
• Unable to provide informed consent.
• Severe cognitive, visual, or hearing impairment precluding participation.
• No access to a smartphone/WhatsApp or unreliable connectivity that prevents use of the intervention.

Study design
Purpose of the study
Prevention
Allocation to intervention
Non-randomised trial
Procedure for enrolling a subject and allocating the treatment (allocation concealment procedures)
Methods used to generate the sequence in which subjects will be randomised (sequence generation)
Masking / blinding
Open (masking not used)
Who is / are masked / blinded?



Intervention assignment
Single group
Other design features
Phase
Not Applicable
Type of endpoint/s
Efficacy
Statistical methods / analysis

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
1/09/2026
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
1/09/2027
Actual
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
30/09/2027
Actual
Sample size
Target
70
Accrual to date
20
Final
Recruitment outside Australia
Country [1] 28436 0
New Zealand
State/province [1] 28436 0

Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1] 322619 0
University
Name [1] 322619 0
Putahi Manawa, Centre of Research Excellence, University of Auckland
Country [1] 322619 0
New Zealand
Primary sponsor type
Other Collaborative groups
Name
Moana Connect
Address
Country
New Zealand
Secondary sponsor category [1] 325851 0
None
Name [1] 325851 0
Address [1] 325851 0
Country [1] 325851 0

Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
Ethics committee name [1] 321080 0
Northern B Health and Disability Ethics Committee 
Ethics committee address [1] 321080 0
Ethics committee country [1] 321080 0
New Zealand
Date submitted for ethics approval [1] 321080 0
23/04/2026
Approval date [1] 321080 0
07/07/2026
Ethics approval number [1] 321080 0

Summary
Brief summary
Trial website
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 152586 0
Dr Amio Matenga-Ikihele
Address 152586 0
Moana Connect, 141 Bader Drive, Mangere, Auckland 2022
Country 152586 0
New Zealand
Phone 152586 0
+64 0211752087
Fax 152586 0
Email 152586 0
[email protected]
Contact person for public queries
Name 152587 0
Dr Amio Matenga-Ikihele
Address 152587 0
Moana Connect, 141 Bader Drive, Mangere, Auckland 2022
Country 152587 0
New Zealand
Phone 152587 0
+64 0211752087
Fax 152587 0
Email 152587 0
[email protected]
Contact person for scientific queries
Name 152588 0
Dr Amio Matenga-Ikihele
Address 152588 0
Moana Connect, 141 Bader Drive, Mangere, Auckland 2022
Country 152588 0
New Zealand
Phone 152588 0
+64 0211752087
Fax 152588 0
Email 152588 0
[email protected]

Data sharing statement
Will the study consider sharing individual participant data?
No
No IPD sharing reason/comment: We have not asked participants consent to share data on an individual basis.




What supporting documents are/will be available?

No Supporting Document Provided


Results publications and other study-related documents

Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.

Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.