Testing MI-Coach: ED Mobile App for eating disorders
Official title: Impact of a Mobile App-Based Waitlist Intervention on Readiness for Eating Disorder Treatment
Impact of a Mobile App-Based Waitlist Intervention (MI-Coach: ED) on Readiness for Eating Disorder Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Interventions
MI-Coach: ED Mobile App
The MI-Coach: ED mobile app is a self-guided intervention designed to enhance motivation and readiness for treatment in adults with eating disorders. The app includes seven sequential modules based on motivational interviewing (MI) principles, addressing ambivalence, self-acceptance, compassionate motivation, behavior change goals, sustain and change talk, commitment language, and relapse prevention. Each module incorporates interactive content, including educational videos, articles, and exercises, tailored to support motivation across a range of eating disorder diagnoses. The app is designed to be user-friendly and scalable, providing an accessible, cost-effective solution for individuals on waitlists for formal eating disorder treatment.
Canadian Sites (3)
Interior Health, Eating Disorders Program
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Fraser Health Eating Disorders Program
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Coastal Health, Eating Disorders Program
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for12 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +Must self-identify as a woman, including cisgender or transgender individuals.
- +Must be at least 18 years old at the time of enrollmentEnrolmentThe number of participants a study plans to include, or has included.Read more →.
- +Currently on a waitlist to receive treatment for an eating disorder at provincially funded eating disorder programs in British Columbia.
- +Meets criteria for a threshold or subthreshold eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa (restricting or binge/purge subtype), bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).
- +Able to read and understand English fluently.
- +Owns or has regular access to a smartphone or mobile device capable of running the MI-Coach: ED app.
Exclusion
- −Does not identify as a woman, regardless of sex assigned at birth.
- −Currently receiving active treatment for an eating disorder, such as outpatient therapy, inpatient care, or day programs.
- −Diagnosed with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder or other psychotic disorder.
- −Presence of a cognitive impairment or sensory deficit (e.g., severe visual or hearing impairment) that would interfere with the ability to use the app or complete study assessments.
- −History of a recent traumatic brain injury or neurological condition that might impact participation.
- −Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would interfere with the participant's ability to comply with the study protocolProtocolThe detailed plan a study must follow.Read more → or complete the intervention.
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is testing a way to improve comfort and quality of life alongside other care.
This study is not organised into the usual phase numbers — that is common for device, behavioural, and diagnostic research.
What is being given or done in this study: MI-Coach: ED Mobile App.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
- armsInterventionsModule.interventions[].name
How the study is run
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
This study is open-labelOpen-labelEveryone knows which treatment is being given — nothing is hidden.Read more →: everyone knows which treatment is being given, including you and the study team.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
One group receives no study treatment at all, and is followed for comparison.
There are 3 groups in this study.
From the trial registry
Built from this field:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Who the study is looking for
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 74 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around September 2027.
The main measurement is taken over: From enrollmentEnrolmentThe number of participants a study plans to include, or has included.Read more → to the end of initial study armArmOne of the groups in a study, each receiving something different.Read more → at 4 weeks.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Change from BaselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more → in Overall Motivation for Treatment as Measured by the Readiness and Motivation Questionnaire (RMQ) at 4 Weeks — measured over From enrollmentEnrolmentThe number of participants a study plans to include, or has included.Read more → to the end of initial study armArmOne of the groups in a study, each receiving something different.Read more → at 4 weeks.
Rate of Change in Weekly Motivation Levels as Measured by the Motivational Stages of Change for Adolescents Recovering from an Eating Disorder (MSCARED) During the Initial 4 Weeks — measured over From enrollment to the end of initial study arm at 4 weeks.
Change from Baseline in Confidence to Engage in Treatment as Measured by the Confidence Subscale of the Readiness and Motivation Questionnaire (RMQ) at 4 Weeks — measured over From enrollment to the end of initial study arm at 4 weeks.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT06801197 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About MI-Coach: ED Mobile AppCombination product
The MI-Coach: ED mobile app is a self-guided intervention designed to enhance motivation and readiness for treatment in adults with eating disorders. The app includes seven sequential modules based on motivational interviewing (MI) principles, addressing ambivalence, self-acceptance, compassionate motivation, behavior change goals, sustain and change talk, commitment language, and relapse prevention. Each module incorporates interactive content, including educational videos, articles, and exercises, tailored to support motivation across a range of eating disorder diagnoses. The app is designed to be user-friendly and scalable, providing an accessible, cost-effective solution for individuals on waitlists for formal eating disorder treatment.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a combination product is here: A product that combines two categories — for example a drug delivered by a device.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: a minimum age of 18 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
One group receives no study treatment and is followed for comparison.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
This study is open-labelOpen-labelEveryone knows which treatment is being given — nothing is hidden.Read more →: everyone knows which treatment is being given, including you and the study team.
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: From enrollmentEnrolmentThe number of participants a study plans to include, or has included.Read more → to the end of initial study armArmOne of the groups in a study, each receiving something different.Read more → at 4 weeks.
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2027-09.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 74 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists 3 locations, including: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada; Surrey, British Columbia, Canada; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether a mobile app-based motivational interviewing intervention (MI-Coach: ED) can improve motivation and readiness for treatment in adults with eating disorders who are currently on waitlists for provincially funded eating disorder services in British Columbia. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the use of MI-Coach: ED improve overall motivation, confidence, and readiness for treatment compared to treatment-as-usual (waitlist with no intervention)? * Does the app help mitigate declines in motivation over time among waitlisted individuals? Researchers will compare participants using the MI-Coach: ED app to a delayed treatment control group to assess differences in motivation, readiness for treatment, and associated clinical outcomes. Participants will: * Treatment group: Use the MI-Coach: ED app for four weeks, completing interactive modules focused on motivation and readiness for change, while also completing weekly brief assessments of motivation. * Delayed treatment group: Remain on the waitlist with no intervention for four weeks while completing weekly brief assessments of motivation. After this period, they will receive access to the MI-Coach: ED app and be integrated into the treatment group. * Complete pre-test and post-test questionnaires at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks assessing motivation, eating pathology, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. This study aims to inform evidence-based practices for reducing the adverse effects of long waitlist durations on individuals with eating disorders.
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See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.