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Personal Goals, Barriers to Self-Management and Desired mHealth Application Features to Improve Self-Care in Multi-Ethnic Asian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Sungwon Yoon

    (Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
    Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation, SingHealth Regional Health System, Singapore 828815, Singapore)

  • Yu Heng Kwan

    (Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
    Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
    Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore Health Services, Singapore 168753, Singapore)

  • Jie Kie Phang

    (Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
    Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation, SingHealth Regional Health System, Singapore 828815, Singapore)

  • Wee Boon Tan

    (Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation, SingHealth Regional Health System, Singapore 828815, Singapore
    Population Health & Integrated Care Office (PHICO), Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 168753, Singapore)

  • Lian Leng Low

    (Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
    Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation, SingHealth Regional Health System, Singapore 828815, Singapore
    Population Health & Integrated Care Office (PHICO), Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 168753, Singapore
    Department of Family Medicine and Continuing Care, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169856, Singapore)

Abstract

(1) Introduction: The ubiquity of mobile phones suggests the potential of mobile health applications to reach patients with type 2 diabetes and engage them to improve self-care. This study aimed to explore personal goals, barriers to self-management and desired mobile health application features to improve self-care among multi-ethnic Asian patients with type 2 diabetes. (2) Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients with type 2 diabetes ( n = 29). Patients were recruited from a multi-disciplinary center for diabetes and metabolism in Singapore, using a purposive sampling strategy. Various visual materials, collated from existing mobile health application features, were used to facilitate the discussion. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 29 patients participated in 11 focus group discussions or one-on-one interviews. Personal goals for self-management were centered around short-term outcome expectancy, such as better glucose control and a reduced number of medications. Self-management was hampered by competing priorities and limited healthy food options when at work, while a lack of tailored advice from healthcare providers further diminished competence. The desired mobile health app features to improve self-care behaviors included quantifiable goal-setting, personalized nudges based on tracked data, built-in resources from credible sources, in-app social support through virtual interaction with peers and healthcare providers, technology-driven novel data logging and user-defined nudges. (4) Conclusions: We identified a set of app features that may foster motivation to engage in lifestyle modification for patients with T2DM. The findings serve to inform the design of artificial intelligence-enabled mobile health application intervention aimed at improving diabetes self-care.

Suggested Citation

  • Sungwon Yoon & Yu Heng Kwan & Jie Kie Phang & Wee Boon Tan & Lian Leng Low, 2022. "Personal Goals, Barriers to Self-Management and Desired mHealth Application Features to Improve Self-Care in Multi-Ethnic Asian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:15415-:d:979746
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mingxuan Cui & Xueyan Wu & Jiangfeng Mao & Xi Wang & Min Nie, 2016. "T2DM Self-Management via Smartphone Applications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, November.
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