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 .
The DAILY (Daily Automated Intensive Log for Youth) trial: a wireless, portable system to improve adherence and glycemic control in youth with diabetes.
Blood glucose ( BG ) monitoring ( BGM ) is an important component of diabetes management . New wireless technologies may facilitate BGM and help to optimize glycemic control . We evaluated an integrated wireless approach with and without a motivational game in youth with diabetes . Forty youth , 8 - 18 years old , each received a h and held device fitted with a wireless modem and diabetes data management software , plus a wireless-enabled BG monitor . Half were r and omized to receive the new technologies along with an integrated motivational game in which the participants would guess a BG level following collection of three earlier readings ( Game Group ) . BG data , insulin doses , and carbohydrate intake were displayed graphically prior to the glucose estimation . The other group received the new technologies alone ( Control Group ) . Both groups were instructed to perform BGM four times daily and transmit their data to a central server via the wireless modem . Feasibility of implementation and outcomes were ascertained after 4 weeks . Ninety-three percent of participants successfully transmitted their data wirelessly to the server . The Game Group transmitted significantly more glucose values than the Control Group ( P < 0.001 ) . The Game Group also had significantly less hyperglycemia ( glucose > /=13.9 mmol/L or > /=250 mg/dL ) than the Control Group ( P < 0.001 ) . Youth in the Game Group displayed a significant increase in diabetes knowledge over the 4-week trial ( P < 0.005 ) . Finally , there was a trend for more youth in the Game Group to maintain hemoglobin A1C values < /=8 % ( P = 0.06 ) . Thus a pediatric population with diabetes can successfully implement new technologies to facilitate BGM . Use of a motivational game appears to increase the frequency of monitoring , reduce the frequency of hyperglycemia , and improve diabetes knowledge , and may help to optimize glycemic control
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 .