Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease resulting from a deficit in the production of sufficient insulin or ineffective use of this which prevents adequate glucose metabolism, the prevalence of this condition has increased dramatically in recent years, and the development of complications generates high costs to the system, approximately $ 612 billion. However, this can be avoided with adequate glycemic control and early diagnosis. It has been shown that 80% of the diabetic population are in low-income countries where health resources are limited. However, the use of mobile technologies has increased exponentially, and this allows the use of mobile applications to promote self-care in health to be a feasible and cost-effective strategy.
Objectives: To describe the effectiveness and accessibility of mobile application implementation as a therapeutic alternative to prevent complications within the comprehensive management of patients with diabetes.
Methods: In November 2019, we searched PubMed, Embase, ICTRP, Clinical Trials, BVS, DARE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included studies with patients diagnosed with diabetes, whose intervention was mobile applications and studies measuring outcomes of efficacy, safety and acceptance for these among patients, study selection and data extraction were performed by two reviewers, the list of reference of each study was analyzed manually to apply a snowball strategy. Due to heterogeneity in included references methodology, we did not rate the quality of evidence with a standardized method.
Results: Initial search retrieved 1,254 references, of which 67 articles were included. Additionally, 16 articles were identified after the 'snowball' methodology was applied. Out of 84 articles with geographical reference, 36 (42%) came from the US; 12 (14,2%) from Canada; 9 (10,7%) China, 5 (6%) France, 4 Netherlands, 3 Germany, 3 South Korea, 2 Ireland, 2 Norway, 2 Australia and one each from China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, and Switzerland. We included original research articles and literature reviews.
Conclusions:
The utilization of mobile applications in the prevention of complications of DM is a useful and accessible tool for patients and health personnel. In the subjects, there was greater empowerment of their disease and significant improvements in self-care activities and metabolic parameters' control. Despite being a relatively new therapeutic alternative, satisfactory evidence was found to support its use in self-care.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: This study is of interest to decision-makers and diagnosed patients because it gives us the basis to implement mobile applications for the prevention of complications of DM, they allow the clinician to have a more excellent knowledge of the patient's condition to adapt the treatment and also allow the patients to have strong potential as a therapeutic aid for self-care.
Objectives: To describe the effectiveness and accessibility of mobile application implementation as a therapeutic alternative to prevent complications within the comprehensive management of patients with diabetes.
Methods: In November 2019, we searched PubMed, Embase, ICTRP, Clinical Trials, BVS, DARE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included studies with patients diagnosed with diabetes, whose intervention was mobile applications and studies measuring outcomes of efficacy, safety and acceptance for these among patients, study selection and data extraction were performed by two reviewers, the list of reference of each study was analyzed manually to apply a snowball strategy. Due to heterogeneity in included references methodology, we did not rate the quality of evidence with a standardized method.
Results: Initial search retrieved 1,254 references, of which 67 articles were included. Additionally, 16 articles were identified after the 'snowball' methodology was applied. Out of 84 articles with geographical reference, 36 (42%) came from the US; 12 (14,2%) from Canada; 9 (10,7%) China, 5 (6%) France, 4 Netherlands, 3 Germany, 3 South Korea, 2 Ireland, 2 Norway, 2 Australia and one each from China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, and Switzerland. We included original research articles and literature reviews.
Conclusions:
The utilization of mobile applications in the prevention of complications of DM is a useful and accessible tool for patients and health personnel. In the subjects, there was greater empowerment of their disease and significant improvements in self-care activities and metabolic parameters' control. Despite being a relatively new therapeutic alternative, satisfactory evidence was found to support its use in self-care.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: This study is of interest to decision-makers and diagnosed patients because it gives us the basis to implement mobile applications for the prevention of complications of DM, they allow the clinician to have a more excellent knowledge of the patient's condition to adapt the treatment and also allow the patients to have strong potential as a therapeutic aid for self-care.