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Nutrition Translation and Communications (Oral Session 11)

(OR11-02-25) Empowering Healthcare Providers: Usability, Quality, and Practical Clinical Application of the Portfolio Diet Program for Evidence-Based Nutrition Care

Monday, June 2, 2025
8:30 AM – 8:42 AM ET
Location: S230 E-H

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Laura Chiavaroli, MSc, PhD (she/her/hers)

    Assistant Professor
    University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • GV

    Gabrielle Viscardi, RD

    PhD Candidate
    University of Toronto
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • SE

    Sahba Eskandari

    University of Toronto
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • AC

    Alyssa Chen

    University of British Columbia
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  • ME

    Madeline Erlich, RD

    University of Toronto

  • Meaghan E. Kavanagh, PhD

    Postdoctoral Fellow
    University of Toronto
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • SB

    Songhee Back

    University of Toronto

  • MV

    Micheal Vallis

    Family Medicine, Dalhousie University
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

  • Mary J. Scourboutakos, PhD

    Medical Student/Post-Doctoral Associate
    University of Toronto
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • CK

    Cyril W. Kendall, PhD

    Research Associate
    University of Toronto
    toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • DJ

    David J. Jenkins

    Professor
    Department of Nutritional Sciences and Medicine, Temerty, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada 5 Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada 6 Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada 7 Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • John L. Sievenpiper, MD, PhD, FRCPC

    Associate Professor
    University of Toronto
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • VM

    Vasanti S. Malik, MSc, ScD

    Assistant Professor
    University of Toronto
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death globally. The transition to virtual care and increasing smartphone use offer opportunities for digital nutrition interventions for CVD prevention and management. The Portfolio Diet, an evidence-based dietary pattern with proven cardiovascular benefits, has been translated into the Portfolio Diet Program, a digital educational and engagement tool. Despite the potential of such tools, concerns among healthcare providers (HCPs) about their credibility and accuracy remain barriers to adoption. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the usability, quality, and potential integration of the Portfolio Diet Program into clinical practice from the perspective of HCPs.

Methods: Physicians, dietitians, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners were invited to engage with the first 7 days of the Portfolio Diet Program, including the PortfolioDiet.app, Kickstart Package, and text messages. On day 8, they completed a mixed-methods electronic questionnaire assessing app usability using the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ), app quality using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS), and the Program’s potential integration in clinical practice. The MARS assesses 4 objective quality domains (engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality) and 1 subjective quality domain.

Results: A total of 65 HCPs participated (36 physicians, 21 dietitians, 6 pharmacists, and 2 nurse practitioners). The mean MAUQ score was 5.17/7 (SD 1.13), indicating good usability. Most HCPs (89%) believed the app would support their patients in adopting the Portfolio Diet, and 78% indicated they would integrate it into their practice. Fifty-two HCPs completed the MARS, with a mean objective score of 3.86/5 (SD 0.51) and a mean subjective quality score of 4.37/5 (SD 0.61), indicating good quality and perceived value.

Conclusions: The PortfolioDiet.app demonstrated good usability and quality, with the Program demonstrating strong potential for clinical integration. HCPs recognize the value of the Portfolio Diet Program to support patients in following the Portfolio Diet, highlighting its potential as a digital tool to enhance the delivery of evidence-based nutrition care for CVD.

Funding Sources: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Toronto 3D Knowledge Synthesis and Clinical Trials foundation