Tailored Communication Within Mobile Apps for Diabetes Self-Management: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Diabetes management
• Health communication

Background:

• Increasing diabetes prevalence necessitates enhanced self-management support.
• Traditional patient-provider communication is evolving with digital tools.
• Mobile apps offer a platform for communication, but integrated healthcare personnel feedback needs investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review studies on mobile apps with integrated communication for diabetes self-management.
• To evaluate study characteristics, functions, outcomes, effects, and methodological quality.
• To assess the evidence for tailored feedback between patients with diabetes and healthcare personnel via apps.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search (2008-2016) in major databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, etc.).
• Adherence to PROSPERO protocol and PRISMA guidelines.
• Methodological quality assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Main Results:

• 6 studies involving 431 participants were included; trials were small and short.
• Integrated communication primarily involved non-real-time written feedback; blood glucose tracking was common.
• 3 studies showed statistically significant improvements in primary outcomes (HbA1c or blood pressure); usability was generally positive, but overall study quality was uncertain.

Conclusions:

• The field requires more high-quality trials due to heterogeneity and methodological limitations.
• Limited integrated communication features and small sample sizes hinder reliable evidence generation.
• Further rigorous research is essential to establish the efficacy of these digital health tools for diabetes care.