JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Smartphone applications (apps) may provide tools to support patients’ physical activity.

Objective:

To study the effect of a 12-week long intervention promoting physical activity through use of the DiaCert-app among patients with type 2 diabetes in Sweden. The effects at 3 and 6 months of follow-up on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA, primary outcome) and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, HbA1c, blood lipids, and blood pressure (secondary outcomes) were assessed.

Methods:

We recruited 181 men and women with type 2 diabetes. Participants mean age and BMI were 60.7±11.3 years and 30.1±5.5 kg/m2, respectively. Participants were randomized 1:1 to intervention (n=93) or control group (n=88). The intervention group was in addition to standard care also given access to the DiaCert-app at baseline and 12 weeks onwards. The control group received standard care. Outcomes of objectively measured physical activity using accelerometers, BMI, waist circumference, biomarkers, and blood pressure were assessed at baseline and follow-ups. Linear mixed models were used to assess differences in outcomes between the groups.

Results:

We found no effect on MVPA at neither the 3-month (β=1.51, 95%CI: -5.53 to 8.55), nor the 6-month (β=-3.53, 95%CI: -10.97 to 3.92) follow-up. We found no effect on any of the secondary outcomes at follow-ups, except for a statistically significant effect on BMI at 6-months (β=0.52, 95%CI: 0.20 to 0.84). However, mean BMI did not differ between the groups at the 6-months follow-up.

Conclusions:

We did not observe an effect of the DiaCert-app on MVPA or secondary outcomes. Nevertheless, there is potential for mHealth apps to be used as a complement to standard care among patients with type 2 diabetes, but further research is needed to determine what type of digital solutions that are needed to support lifestyle change in this patient group. Clinical Trial: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03053336)