Utilization and Influencing Factors of Mobile Health Applications in Diabetes Management: An Integrative Review

Mobile health applications are increasingly acknowledged as effective instruments for enhancing self-management among individuals with diabetes. However, despite their potential, the extent of their global usage among this population remains unclear. To better understand this, we conducted a systematic review of existing studies to explore the worldwide usage of mobile health applications by this population and to identify factors that influence their usage. A total of 33 studies, involving 15 181 subjects, were analyzed. The findings indicated that, across the studies reviewed, the utilization rate of mobile health applications among individuals with diabetes was 25% (95% confidence interval, 20%-31%). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that country, education level, type of diabetes, mode of insulin delivery, and frequency of blood glucose monitoring influence the utilization rates of mobile health applications by this demographic. In addition, qualitative studies indicated that barriers to utilization, usability issues, the need for personalization, and social and infrastructure support also influence the use of mobile health applications by individuals with diabetes. In light of these influencing factors, policymakers, healthcare providers, and mobile health application developers should collaborate to develop effective strategies to increase the utilization rates of mobile health applications and improve diabetes management.