Content Analysis of Mobile Health Applications on Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes self-management offers an opportunity to patients to be actively involved in managing their conditions and modifying lifestyle behaviors to attain positive health outcomes. With the unprecedented growth of mobile technology, smartphone plays a role in supporting diabetes self-management. Nonetheless, selecting appropriate mobile applications (apps) is challenging for patients. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the contents and features of mobile medical apps for diabetes self-management. Of 346 commercial apps, 16 (16%) and 19 (7.72%) of the diabetes apps found in Apple and Google Play stores, respectively, were included based on the selection criteria and individually scored for the availability of 8 main features of diabetes self-management. The apps supported self-management by offering features such as free installation, less than 50 MB space used, offline use, automated data entry, data export and sharing, educational tool, and advice. Of the 8 evaluated features, only 11 (31.4%) apps had a score of 5 whereas 7 (20%) apps scored the lowest, with a score of 3. The majority of apps were free, required no Internet connectivity to use and were less than 50 MB in size. Our findings showed that the design of diabetes mobile apps focused on reporting and setting reminders, rather than providing personalized education or therapeutic support. In the future, the design of apps could be improved to integrate patients’ needs, usability for disease management, and lifestyle modifications.

Diabetes digital app technology: benefits, challenges, and recommendations. A consensus report by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Diabetes Technology Working Group

“…Interoperability and standardisation Consumers use a variety of mobile technological platforms, including Android and Apple iOS. Android and Apple iOS are the dominant platforms in the US market, with a keyword search for 'diabetes' performed in the Apple and Google Play stores in 2017 identifying 246 available apps for Android and 100 for Apple iOS [70]. As of 2012, more than 75% of physicians in the USA use Apple iOS devices [71].…”

Real-World Assessments of mySugr Mobile Health App

“…Although diabetes management software has been available since the early 1980s, the rapid growth in digital communications technologies (e.g., smartphones, tablets) has prompted the development of a plethora of new selfmanagement tools for patients via mobile health (mHealth) apps. In their 2017 report, Izahar et al 13 identified 346 mHealth apps specifically for self-diabetes management that were available from the Apple iTunes and/or Google Play app stores.…”

Analysis of Mobile Applications for Diabetes Self-Management in Thailand

“…Descriptive information regarding the name of developer, latest update, and operating system of the applications was collected. Based on the exhaustive literature review (Izahar et al, 2017;Demidowich, Lu Tamler, & Bloomgarden, 2012), the applications were then categorized and evaluated the availability of the following features; (1) information support; (2) subscription requirement;…”