BACKGROUND
The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing in Singapore and the cost of providing traditional care for GDM is high. Mobile health (mHealth) applications may act as useful tools in the management of GDM.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this mixed-methods study was to measure the usage behaviour and explore users’ perceived usefulness of the Habits-GDM application when managing GDM in a randomised controlled trial.
METHODS
We conducted a quantitative analysis of the application usage behaviour in 170 Habits-GDM application users and 14 semi-structured interviews with users from a randomised controlled trial.
RESULTS
The convenience of automatic data transfer of weight values to the Habits-GDM application helped users (116/170, 68%) log their weight at least once a week. However, when the application had usability challenges, users avoided using that feature, i.e. users logged only an average of less than one meal/week out of the recommended six meals/week. Of the usability challenges, many users (12/14, 85.7%) mentioned food items not worded in the commonly known way and limited ethnic food database as the primary barriers. Only half of the users (84/170, 49.4%) accessed the educational lessons, but many (9/14, 64%) identified the provision of always available, valuable health-related information as an advantage of the educational lessons. ‘Healthy eating’ and ‘Why exercise’ were the most (56/84, 66.67%) and least (38/84, 45.24%) frequently accessed educational lessons, respectively. Users (10/14, 71.4%) reported sending messages to the coach via the chat interface only when they faced logistic issues and 86.45% of all the coach messages were replies typed by the research coordinator in response to the logistics issues (i.e. a request for blood glucose testing strips and appointment confirmation) raised by the users. Healthcare professionals lack of access to the coach’s dashboard discouraged users from asking queries related to GDM via the e-coaching feature.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that mHealth application acts as a useful tool in managing GDM. Culturally sensitive mHealth applications with a provision for women to interact with healthcare professionals should be developed in cooperation with the users.
CLINICALTRIAL
Not applicable.
Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a co-produced, complex, health promotion intervention for women with prior gestational diabetes and their families: the Face-it study
