Quality and Multifunctionality in Mobile Apps for Gestational Diabetes: Systematic App Review.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• mHealth Applications
• Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Management

Background:

• Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer potential for managing gestational diabetes (GDM), but concerns exist regarding their usability, quality, and patient safety.
• Limited research exists on the in-depth evaluation of app design quality and the variety of features and techniques employed in GDM mHealth apps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the quality and multifunctionality of commercially available mHealth applications designed for gestational diabetes (GDM) management.

Main Methods:

• A systematic app review using the TECH framework and PRISMA 2020 checklist.
• Searches conducted on Apple App Store and Google Play, with apps screened for inclusion.
• Quality assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale and IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics Functionality Score; multifunctionality evaluated using a GDM-adapted feature list.

Main Results:

• 23 mHealth apps for GDM were identified in UK app stores.
• Overall app quality was rated as satisfactory (MARS: 4.0/5; IMS: 5.83/10).
• Apps demonstrated moderate multifunctionality (mean 17.95/45 features), primarily offering basic education and blood glucose tracking with limited advanced or automated features.

Conclusions:

• Current mHealth apps for GDM provide a satisfactory level of quality and basic functionality.
• Future development should incorporate a broader range of pregnancy-specific information, enhanced self-monitoring data integration, and advanced automated features for a more holistic digital solution.