Mobile Phone Apps for Diabetes Patients: AHRQ Report

Some Mobile Phone Apps Help Diabetes Patients Improve Health But Hundreds Remain
Unstudied, AHRQ Report Finds
The use of mobile phone apps to help the diabetes patients improve their health is
increasingly being used by clinicians, pharmacists and patients. These apps have been found to
improve the health of patients; however, most of them have not been evaluated to prove their
efficiency (Agency for Health Research and Quality, 2018). Since there are no legal policies
and regulations governing the development of mobile apps for self-management of diabetes,
hundreds of such apps exist. To help improve the quality of healthcare, AHRQ (2018) found that
diabetes patients have access to several mobile apps, most of which have not been evaluated to
prove efficacy. Self-management is very crucial for a diabetes patient. This is to prevent further
complications as a result of the condition. According to Kebede, and Pischke (2019), the use of
these apps can augment self-management and the adoption of healthier lifestyle.
AHRQ (2018) evaluated 11 apps used in self-management of diabetes and only 5 are
capable of improving the control of blood sugar levels. These apps improve communication by
providing automated feedback or from healthcare professionals. The apps also support lifestyle
changes and glucose monitoring. However, their use is limited by the high attrition due to
insufficient consideration of the perspectives of end-users as well as the requirements of usability
(Adu, Malabu, Callander, Malau-Aduli and Malau-Aduli (2018). A good diabetes management
app should follow standardized medical and behavioral protocols which are capable of
improving the quality of life and preventing premature mortality.
Their also exist gaps in the official legal standards and evidence-based approaches used
in the development of these apps. Adu et al. (2018) argue that there need to be developmental