Evaluating the Potential Use of Smartphone Apps for Diabetes Self-Management in an Underserved Population: A Qualitative Approach
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- (1)
- Obtain the attitudes about and interest in mHealth app usage from a low-income, minority population;
- (2)
- Assess patients’ interest in various app functions for diabetes self-management;
- (3)
- Determine any barriers to use or concerns patients may have about using an app.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Rationale for Qualitative Methods
2.2. Research Framework
2.3. Interview Process
2.4. Research Site
2.5. Recruitment and Participant Selection
2.5.1. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
- Age ≥ 18;
- Diagnosis of type 1 or 2 diabetes;
- Access to a smartphone that can download and open apps (self-reported);
- Irregular or no contact with a primary care provider (self-reported);
- Recent emergency department visit for a diabetes-related reason.
- Diagnosis of chemical or drug-induced diabetes or gestational diabetes;
- Inpatient hospitalized for a diabetes-related event without an ED admission;
- Participation in other research studies on diabetes management or treatment.
2.5.2. Selection Process
2.6. Data Analysis
3. Results
- (1)
- Despite having little previous knowledge about health apps, patients were all willing to try at least one diabetes-related app;
- (2)
- App functions should be individualized to each patient’s needs for maximum benefit;
- (3)
- Barriers to app use were varied but commonly included knowledge and technological challenges and security issues.
3.1. Theme 1: Despite Having Little Previous Knowledge about Health Apps, Patients Were All Willing to Try at Least One Diabetes-Related App
“I used to have this app where you write down your blood sugar, but I, some kinda way I deleted it. I don’t know why. Um, I’m comfortable in usin’ ‘em. It’s, it’s actually helpful because it usually remind me: did you take your sugar? Or I usually put in my text remind me to check my sugar. And I use the bing bing gotta take your sugar.”[personal communication by Participant K, 2017]
3.2. Theme 2: App Functions Should Be Individualized to Each Patient’s Needs for Maximum Benefit
“Well, uh, as far as I can see, it’s like I have to balance. At first, I didn’t worry about what I bought or what I ate, but now, I have to, uh, you know, buy the rights things to, uh, eat when I used to just eat whatever I wanted. But I can’t do that no more. Being on fixed income, uh, I have to just really not, you know, just spend on, on something that I normally would. I have to just spend my money on something that’s more healthy, or, you know, it’s, it’s been a challenge especially since you used to eatin’, you know, whatever you want to. But now you’ve got to be limited, you know, to what you eat, and it’s been a struggle.”[personal communication by Participant F, 2017]
“Oh man, stayin’ away from sweets. You know, like the holidays, like Thanksgivin’, they make ‘em peach cobblers and sweet potato pies. It’s hard, and then when you sittin’ there with all that food […] You know hey I can only have a certain amount of this food. You know what I’m sayin’? And but you wanna try everythang. If you try everything, you gotta get real, real small portions, but then what happen when you get something you really like? Then you eat too much. You know what I’m sayin’? You overindulge. And then you got the sweet stuff. You like, “I’m a try a piece of this” or then, then your sugar’s outta whack.”[personal communication by Participant O, 2018]
3.3. Theme 3: Barriers to App Use Were Varied but Commonly Included Knowledge and Technological Challenges and Security Issues
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Topic | Number of Questions |
---|---|
diabetes health status and self-management behaviors | 4 |
current smartphone usage | 3 |
interest in smartphone apps | 6 |
obstacles to app use | 2 |
Overall Theme | Clusters | Subclusters |
---|---|---|
Despite having little previous knowledge about health apps, patients were all willing to try at least one diabetes-related app. | Openness to health apps | Number of apps Payment |
Comfort using smartphones | ||
Current or previous phone usage | ||
Knowledge about apps | ||
App functions should be individualized to each patient’s needs for maximum benefit. | App functions interest | |
Challenges to management | ||
Barriers to app use were varied but commonly included knowledge and technological challenges and security issues. | Concerns about app use | |
Comfort using smartphones |
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Luo, J.; White-Means, S. Evaluating the Potential Use of Smartphone Apps for Diabetes Self-Management in an Underserved Population: A Qualitative Approach. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 9886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189886
Luo J, White-Means S. Evaluating the Potential Use of Smartphone Apps for Diabetes Self-Management in an Underserved Population: A Qualitative Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(18):9886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189886
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuo, Jenny, and Shelley White-Means. 2021. "Evaluating the Potential Use of Smartphone Apps for Diabetes Self-Management in an Underserved Population: A Qualitative Approach" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 18: 9886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189886