JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition requiring effective self-management to maintain glycemic control and prevent complications. Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer potential solutions by providing real-time monitoring, personalized feedback, and educational resources. However, their long-term adoption is hindered by a lack of user involvement in the development process and insufficient cultural adaptation. This study aims to explore the perspectives of DM patients in Hong Kong on the functionalities and features of mHealth apps, highlighting the importance of tailoring these apps to meet local cultural needs.

Objective:

To understand the views of patients with DM on the development of mobile health (mHealth) apps and the demand for app functions, in order to provide a basis for the development of DM prevention apps.

Methods:

This descriptive qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with ten DM patients attending a District Health Centre in Hong Kong in May 2024, using a purposive sampling strategy. The transcribed data were analyzed by the inductive content analytical method, and themes were extracted with the aid of NVivo 15.0 software.

Results:

Seven key themes were identified: accurate information resources, automatic tracking and monitoring of health metrics, reminders, personalized customization options, intuitive usability, efficient data-sharing capabilities, and interactive design. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of cultural adaptation and the potential of AI-enabled mHealth apps to enhance personalized information delivery. Ensuring the credibility and professionalism of information sources is also essential.

Conclusions:

The results provide valuable insights for enhancing the self-management capabilities of DM patients and inform the future development of mHealth apps focused on DM prevention.