JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Diabetes is a life-long condition that requires continuous patient engagement in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and adherence to treatment. The unsustainable efforts of clinicians and healthcare organisations to curb its prevalence and progression are failing. Technology, especially diabetes self-management (DSM) apps, has been suggested as a potential tool to improve clinicians’ workload and enhance patients’ DSM activities. However, DSM apps, like any healthcare intervention, are only effective if clinicians recommend them, and patients use them.

Objective:

This study aims to explore the determinants of DSM apps’ adoption by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients. It will also outline the future research agenda for using DSM apps in diabetes care.

Methods:

We systematically reviewed the factors affecting the adoption of DSM apps by patients and HCPs. Searches were performed using PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, ACM and Xplore digital libraries for articles published in the period of 2008-2020. Search terms included: diabetes, mobile apps, and self-management. Relevant data will be extracted from included studies and analysed using a thematic synthesis approach.

Results:

Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We identified a range of determinants relating to patients and HCPs characteristics, experiences and preferences. Young female patients are more likely to adopt DSM apps. Patients’ perceptions of the benefits of apps, ease of use, and recommendation by patients and other HCPs strongly affect their intention to use DSM apps. HCPs are less likely to use these apps if they do not perceive much benefits from them. They will not recommend the use of these apps if they are unaware of their existence or credibility. Young and technology-savvy HCPs are more likely to recommend DSM apps.

Conclusions:

Despite the potential of DSM apps to improve patients’ self-care activities and diabetes outcomes, HCPs and patients still prefer the traditional face-to-face approach, and are hesitant to adopt these apps. However, technology in the post COVID-19 era makes the traditional health services delivery model a thing of the past. DSM apps may just be the new normal in the post COVID-19 era.