# Gamified Optimized Diabetes-management with AI powered Rural Telehealth (GODART)

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $297,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Evidence-based guidelines for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management aimed at glycemic control
(reduced hemoglobin A1c) include a combination of diet, physical activity (PA), glucose monitoring, and
medication adherences. However, the majority of individuals with T2DM are unable to follow these guidelines
due to a lack of consistent health behavior counseling offered in the primary care setting. This problem is
amplified in remote rural communities within the U.S. In response, this project aims to create an optimized
telehealth-based intervention – Gamified Optimized Diabetes management with Artificial Intelligence–powered
Rural Telehealth (GODART). GODART is grounded in the social cognitive theory and will serve as an
automated behavior-monitoring and telecoaching platform. At the core, GODART is an automated
conversational style behavior-monitoring system using natural language–understanding technologies. In this
project, we propose to pilot and feasibility test the various components of GODART by leveraging multiphase
optimization strategy (MOST). MOST is an efficient and rigorous resource-management and continuous-
improvement framework for developing optimized interventions. Our proposal focuses on the MOST
preparatory phase and will use a full factorial experimentation. We will pilot and assess the feasibility of and
evaluate two different intervention components, with two levels in each of the groups, yielding four
experimental conditions. These groups will test the effect of (i) a fixed vs. adaptive (gamified) rewards program
and (ii) automated vs. human-delivered weekly health coaching. We will end the project with exit interviews
conducted with a subset of participants. Study findings will help us learn the feasibility of delivering such an
intervention and its preliminary effectiveness in reducing HbA1c, leading to adequately powered confirmatory
effectiveness studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10276845
- **Project number:** 1R01DK129378-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Tapan S Mehta
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $297,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-06 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10276845

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10276845, Gamified Optimized Diabetes-management with AI powered Rural Telehealth (GODART) (1R01DK129378-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10276845. Licensed CC0.

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