Main study characteristics and findings from 51 studies that examined mHealth intervention for diabetes and hypertension treatment and management
| Category | Number of studies (n, %) | Study ID* |
| Country/setting | ||
| Developed country | ||
| USA | 13 (25.5) | 13, 17, 18, 20, 24, 28, 29, 34, 35, 45, 46, 48, 50 |
| England | 6 (11.8) | 5, 19, 22, 44, 47, 51 |
| Korea | 6 (11.8) | 10, 11, 14, 36, 40, 43 |
| Italy | 4 (7.8) | 16, 23, 27, 32 |
| Germany | 2 (3.9) | 15–38 |
| Israel | 2 (3.9) | 2–25 |
| Australia | 1 (2.0) | 30 |
| Belgium | 1 (2.0) | 26 |
| France | 1 (2.0) | 44 |
| Developing country† | ||
| China | 5 (9.8) | 8, 9, 26, 33, 49 |
| Iran | 3 (5.9) | 1, 7, 31 |
| Egypt | 1 (2.0) | 4 |
| India | 1 (2.0) | 12 |
| Honduras and Mexico | 1 (2.0) | 41 |
| Malaysia | 1 (2.0) | 3 |
| Turkey | 1 (2.0) | 6 |
| Poland | 1 (2.0) | 37 |
| South Africa | 1 (2.0) | 42 |
| Intervention time/duration | ||
| ≤3 months | 11 (21.6) | 1, 4, 6, 7, 15, 17, 31, 33, 36, 38, 41 |
| 3–6 months | 23 (45.1) | 3, 8–14, 20, 21, 23, 25–27, 30, 32, 37 39, 43, 48–51 |
| >6 months | 17 (33.3) | 2, 5, 16, 18, 19, 22, 24, 28, 29, 34, 35, 40, 42, 44–47 |
| Sample size | ||
| <100 | 17 (33.3) | 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 20, 22, 25, 26, 30, 31, 36–38, 40, 48, 50 |
| 100–500 | 27 (52.9) | 3, 5, 7–11, 13–17, 19, 23, 24, 27, 28, 32–35, 39, 41, 43, 45, 49, 51 |
| >500 | 7 (13.7) | 18, 21, 29, 42, 44, 46, 47 |
| Targeted patient | ||
| T1DM | 7 (13.7) | 2, 23, 27, 30, 32, 38, 39 |
| T2DM | 28 (54.9) | 1, 3–16, 19–21, 24, 26, 28, 29, 33–37, 40 |
| T1DM and T2DM combined | 4 (7.8) | 18, 22, 25, 31 |
| T2DM and HTN combined | 1 (2.0) | 17 |
| HTN | 11 (21.6) | 41–51 |
| Type and specific function of mHealth | ||
| MPTMs | ||
| Knowledge and tips | 5 (9.8) | 1, 4, 13, 40, 42 |
| Suggestions | 1 (2.0) | 42 |
| Reminder | 2 (3.9) | 4–42 |
| Medical consultations‡ | 1 (2.0) | 42 |
| Feedback | 1 (2.0) | 30 |
| Telemedicine | ||
| Knowledge and tips | 26 (51.0) | 3, 6, 8, 9, 14–16, 19–22, 24, 26, 29, 31, 32, 34, 38–41, 44–46, 49, 51 |
| Suggestions | 20 (39.2) | 2, 5, 10, 11, 16, 17, 19–21, 25–27, 31, 33, 34, 36, 41, 43, 46, 47 |
| Reminder | 5 (9.8) | 16, 24, 27, 44, 49 |
| Medical consultations | 17 (33.3) | 5, 11, 14, 15, 19, 24–29, 36, 37, 39, 45, 46, 48 |
| Data monitoring/collection/store/transmit | 27 (52.9) | 2, 5, 8–11, 14, 16, 17, 20, 22, 25, 29, 31, 33, 34, 37, 40, 41, 43–47, 51 |
| Feedback | 10 (19.6) | 2, 9, 10, 14, 22, 27, 31, 37, 38, 51 |
| MPCs | ||
| Knowledge and tips | 3 (5.9) | 7, 18, 35 |
| Medical consultations | 3 (5.9) | 7, 18, 35 |
| Reminder | 1 (2.0) | 35 |
| mHealth APPs | ||
| Suggestions | 2 (3.9) | 12–50 |
| Medical consultations | 1 (2.0) | 23 |
| Reminder | 2 (3.9) | 12–50 |
| Data monitoring/collection/store/transmit | 5 (9.8) | 12, 30, 32, 38, 39 |
| WPMDs | ||
| Data monitoring/collection/store/transmit | 8 (15.7) | 23, 27, 28, 35, 36, 48–50 |
| Secondary intervention results | ||
| Improved knowledge | 3 (5.9) | 1, 3, 4 |
| Improved adherence | 14 (27.5) | 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 18, 23, 24, 25, 36, 38, 45, 49 |
| Improved self-efficacy/self-care§ | 13 (25.5) | 1, 3, 4, 7, 15, 18, 20, 35–38, 45, 50 |
| Improved behavior | 12 (23.5) | 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 16, 18, 24, 30, 35, 41,45 |
| Improved satisfaction | 10 (19.6) | 2, 11, 12, 13, 27, 32, 34, 38, 41, 45 |
| Improved symptoms | 7 (13.7) | 6, 18, 22, 25, 34, 35, 41 |
| Improved quality of life | 10 (19.6) | 6, 16, 21, 22, 25, 27, 32, 35, 37, 41 |
| Improve complications | 6 (11.8) | 14, 15, 25, 28, 32, 33 |
| Changed bad habits | 1 (2.0) | 50 |
| Reduced costs¶ | 2 (3.9) | 2–39 |
*Study ID: indicate the 1st to 51st study.
†Developing country: refers to countries with low levels of economy, technology, and people's living standards. Evaluation criteria mainly refer to the relatively low GDP per capita (GDP per capita) of the country.
‡Medical consultations: patient–health care giver communication by phone, video, and so on.
§Improved self-efficacy/self-care: as evaluated by scale, such as diabetes self-efficacy scale, diabetes self-care activities scale, and so on.
¶Reduced costs: it means that using mHealth can save the time for instruction than usual care, or save the time and money spent traveling to and from hospital, and so on.
HTN, hypertension; mHealth, mobile health; mHealth Apps, mobile health applications; MPCs, mobile phone calls; MPTMs, mobile phone text messages; T1DM, type 1 diabetes mellitus; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; WPMDs, wearable or portable monitoring devices.