There is potential for mHealth tools to better facilitate adherence to chronic disease management , but the evidence supporting its current effectiveness is mixed .
BACKGROUND Adherence to chronic disease management is critical to achieving improved health outcomes , quality of life , and cost-effective health care .
As the burden of chronic diseases continues to grow globally , so does the impact of non-adherence .
Mobile technologies are increasingly being used in health care and public health practice ( mHealth ) for patient communication , monitoring , and education , and to facilitate adherence to chronic diseases management .
OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth in supporting the adherence of patients to chronic diseases management ( " mAdherence " ) , and the usability , feasibility , and acceptability of mAdherence tools and platforms in chronic disease management among patients and health care providers .
Mobile Phone-Based Video Messages for Diabetes Self-Care Support
Background : This study examined whether mobile phone-based , one-way video messages about diabetes self-care improve hemoglobin A1c ( A1C ) and self-monitoring of blood glucose ( SMBG ) . Methods : This was a 1-year prospect i ve r and omized trial with two groups . The active intervention lasted 6 months . The study enrolled 65 people with A1C > 8.0 % who were established ( > 6 months ) patients in the endocrinology clinics of the Walter Reed Health Care System . Participants were r and omized to receive “ usual care ” or self-care video messages from their diabetes nurse practitioner . Video messages were sent daily to cell phones of study participants . Hemoglobin A1c and SMBG data were collected at 0 , 3 , 6 , 9 , and 12 months . Results : Participants who received the messages had a larger rate of decline in A1C than people who received usual care ( 0.2 % difference over 12 months , adjusting for covariates ; p = .002 and p = .004 for the interaction between time and group and for the quadratic effect of time by group , respectively ) . Hemoglobin A1c decline was greatest among participants who received video messages and viewed > 10 a month ( 0.6 % difference over 12 months , adjusting for covariates ; p < .001 for the interaction between time and group and the quadratic effect ) . Self-monitoring of blood glucose metrics were not related to the intervention . Conclusions : A one-way intervention using mobile phone-based video messages about diabetes self-care can improve A1C . Engagement with the technology is an important predictor of its success . This intervention is simple to implement and sustain
There is potential for mHealth tools to better facilitate adherence to chronic disease management , but the evidence supporting its current effectiveness is mixed .
BACKGROUND Adherence to chronic disease management is critical to achieving improved health outcomes , quality of life , and cost-effective health care .
As the burden of chronic diseases continues to grow globally , so does the impact of non-adherence .
Mobile technologies are increasingly being used in health care and public health practice ( mHealth ) for patient communication , monitoring , and education , and to facilitate adherence to chronic diseases management .
OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth in supporting the adherence of patients to chronic diseases management ( " mAdherence " ) , and the usability , feasibility , and acceptability of mAdherence tools and platforms in chronic disease management among patients and health care providers .