Effect of the Pregnant+ Smartphone App on the Dietary Behavior of Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Health Behavior Change Interventions Using Mobile Phones: A Meta-Analysis

The technological capabilities of mobile phones have made them a useful tool for delivering interventions, but additional research is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying the comparative effectiveness of mobile health interventions. This meta-analysis analyzes the relative effectiveness of mobile phone-based health interventions relative to comparison/control groups (e.g., eHealth interventions, standard of care, etc.), the utility of the theory of planned behavior in mobile phone-based health interventions, and the roles of various moderators. One hundred eighteen studies met inclusion criteria and contributed to an overall effect size of d = 0.27 (95% CI [.22, .32]). Findings indicate that mobile phone-based health interventions are significantly more effective than comparison/control conditions at improving health behaviors. Additionally, perceived behavioral control was a significant moderator providing some support for the usefulness of theory of planned behavior in mobile phone-based health interventions.

Smartphone applications for nutrition Support: A systematic review of the target outcomes and main functionalities

INTRODUCTION

A proper nutrition is essential for human life. Recently, special attention on this topic has been given in relation to three health statuses: obesity, malnutrition and specific diseases that can be related to food or treated with specific diets. Mobile technology is often used to assist users that wish to regulate their eating habits, and identifying which fields of application have been explored the most by the app developers and which main functionalities have been adopted can be useful in view of future app developments.

METHODS

We selected 322 articles mentioning nutrition support apps through a literature database search, all of which have undergone an initial screening. After the exclusion of papers that were already reviews, not presenting apps or not focused on nutrition, not relevant or not developed for human subjects, 100 papers were selected for subsequent analyses that aimed at identifying the main treated conditions, outcome measures and functionalities implemented in the Apps.

RESULTS

Of the selected studies, 33 focus on specific diseases, 24 on obesity, 2 on malnutrition and 41 on other targets (e.g., weight/diet control). Type 2 diabetes is the most targeted disease, followed by gestational diabetes, hypertension, colorectal cancer and CVDs which all were targeted by more than one app. Most Apps include self-monitoring and coaching functionalities, educational content and artificial intelligence (AI) tools are slightly less common, whereas counseling, gamification and questionnaires are the least implemented. Body weight and calories/nutrients were the most common general outcome measures, while glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was the most common clinical outcome. No statistically significant differences in the effectiveness of the different functionalities were found.

CONCLUSION

The use of mobile technology to improve nutrition has been widely explored in the last years, especially for weight control and specific diseases like diabetes; however, other food-related conditions such as Irritable Bowel Diseases appear to be less targeted by newly developed smartphone apps and their related studies. All different kinds of functionalities appear to be equally effective, but further specific studies are needed to confirm the results.

The use of internet-based smartphone apps consistently improved consumers' healthy eating behaviors: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Introduction

Digital tools, such as mobile apps and the Internet, are being increasingly used to promote healthy eating habits. However, there has been inconsistent reporting on the effectiveness of smartphones and web-based apps in influencing dietary behaviors. Moreover, previous reviews have been limited in scope, either by focusing on a specific population group or by being outdated. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to investigate the impacts of smartphone- and web-based dietary interventions on promoting healthy eating behaviors worldwide.

Methods

A systematic literature search of randomized controlled trials was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Global Health, Informit, Web of Science, and CINAHL (EBSCO). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to prepare the entire document. EndNote (version 20) was used for reference management. The risk of bias in the articles was assessed using the "Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0)" by the Cochrane Collaboration. Narrative synthesis, using text and tables, was used to present the results. The study was registered in PROSPERO under protocol number CRD42023464315.

Results

This review analyzed a total of 39 articles, which consisted of 25 smartphone-based apps and 14 web-based apps. The studies involved a total of 14,966 participants. Out of the 25 studies, 13 (52%) showed that offline-capable smartphone apps are successful in promoting healthier eating habits. The impact of smartphone apps on healthy adults has been inconsistently reported. However, studies have shown their effectiveness in chronically ill patients. Likewise, internet-based mobile apps, such as social media or nutrition-specific apps, have been found to effectively promote healthy eating behaviors. These findings were consistent across 14 studies, which included healthy adults, overweight or obese adults, chronically ill patients, and pregnant mothers.

Conclusion

Overall, the findings suggest that smartphone apps contribute to improving healthy eating behaviors. Both nutrition-specific and social media-based mobile apps consistently prove effective in promoting long-term healthy eating habits. Therefore, policymakers in the food system should consider harnessing the potential of internet-based mobile apps and social media platforms to foster sustainable healthy eating behaviors.

Effects of Fetal Images Produced in Virtual Reality on Maternal-Fetal Attachment: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) has been reported to be associated with the postpartum mother-infant relationship. Seeing the fetus through ultrasound might influence MFA, and the effect could be increased by more realistic images, such as those generated in virtual reality (VR).

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to determine the effect of fetal images generated in VR on MFA and depressive symptoms through a prenatal-coaching mobile app.

METHODS

This 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial involved a total of 80 pregnant women. Eligible women were randomly assigned to either a mobile app-only group (n=40) or an app plus VR group (n=40). The VR group experienced their own baby's images generated in VR based on images obtained from fetal ultrasonography. The prenatal-coaching mobile app recommended health behavior for the pregnant women according to gestational age, provided feedback on entered data for maternal weight, blood pressure, and glucose levels, and included a private diary service for fetal ultrasound images. Both groups received the same app, but the VR group also viewed fetal images produced in VR; these images were stored in the app. All participants filled out questionnaires to assess MFA, depressive symptoms, and other basic medical information. The questionnaires were filled out again after the interventions.

RESULTS

Basic demographic data were comparable between the 2 groups. Most of the assessments showed comparable results for the 2 groups, but the mean score to assess interaction with the fetus was significantly higher for the VR group than the control group (0.4 vs 0.1, P=.004). The proportion of participants with an increased score for this category after the intervention was significantly higher in the VR group than the control group (43% vs 13%, P=.005). The feedback questionnaire revealed that scores for the degree of perception of fetal appearance all increased after the intervention in the VR group.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a mobile app with fetal images in VR significantly increased maternal interaction with the fetus.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04942197; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04942197.

Web-Based Interventions for Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Effective management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is essential because it is one of the most prevalent diseases during pregnancy, and the consequent condition maternal hyperglycemia is closely related to considerable short- and long-term maternal and neonatal complications. Web-based interventions (WBIs), defined as therapeutic interventions offered via the web, have been implemented to assist in managing GDM owing to their advantages of high accessibility and efficiency, but findings across relevant studies are inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of WBIs on glycemic control among pregnant women with GDM; examine whether specific types of intervention interactivity, format, and technology have beneficial effects on maternal glycemic control; and comprehensively assess the efficacy of WBIs in maternal behavioral outcomes, cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, mental health, maternal and neonatal clinical outcomes, and medical service use and costs among pregnant women with GDM.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched from their respective inception to November 19, 2022, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool. Where possible, the data for all outcomes were meta-analyzed using the Stata software (version 12.0; StataCorp). Overall, 3 subgroup analyses and post hoc sensitivity analyses of maternal glycemic control parameters were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 25 publications arising from 21 randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials were included. The overall meta-analyses on glycemic control parameters demonstrated that WBIs could significantly improve fasting blood glucose (standardized mean difference=-1.764, 95% CI -2.972 to -0.557; P=.004) and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (standardized mean difference=-1.433, 95% CI -2.561 to -0.304; P=.01) compared with the control group, whereas no significant effect was found on glycated hemoglobin and 1-hour postprandial blood glucose. The results of the subgroup analyses indicated that mobile app-delivered interventions with a personalized format and interactive function showed more beneficial effects on maternal glycemic control. Moreover, WBIs could significantly enhance compliance with the self-monitoring of blood glucose; increase the rate of normal vaginal delivery; and decrease the chance of emergency cesarean, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and composite neonatal complications. GDM knowledge, risk perception of the disease, self-efficacy, satisfaction with care, and medical service use of the participants in the WBI group were also improved compared with the control group. However, the effectiveness of WBIs on other secondary outcomes was either nonsignificant or uncertain.

CONCLUSIONS

WBIs are a promising approach to GDM management. Personalized, interactive, and mobile app-delivered interventions seem more worthy of being recommended for future clinical practice. Further high-quality studies are required to verify these findings before making broad recommendations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42022296625; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=296625.

Behavior Change Effectiveness Using Nutrition Apps in People With Chronic Diseases: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and obesity are common chronic diseases, and their prevalence is reaching an epidemic level worldwide. As the impact of chronic diseases continues to increase, finding strategies to improve care, access to care, and patient empowerment becomes increasingly essential. Health care providers use mobile health (mHealth) to access clinical information, collaborate with care teams, communicate over long distances with patients, and facilitate real-time monitoring and interventions. However, these apps focus on improving general health care concerns, with limited apps focusing on specific chronic diseases and the nutrition involved in the disease state. Hence, available evidence on the effectiveness of mHealth apps toward behavior change to improve chronic disease outcomes is limited.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this scoping review was to provide an overview of behavior change effectiveness using mHealth nutrition interventions in people with chronic diseases (ie, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and obesity). We further evaluated the behavior change techniques and theories or models used for behavior change, if any.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted through a systematic literature search in the MEDLINE, EBSCO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases. Studies were excluded from the review if they did not involve an app or nutrition intervention, were written in a language other than English, were duplicates from other database searches, or were literature reviews. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines, the systematic review process included 4 steps: identification of records through the database search, screening of duplicate and excluded records, eligibility assessment of full-text records, and final analysis of included records.

RESULTS

In total, 46 studies comprising 256,430 patients were included. There was diversity in the chronic disease state, study design, number of participants, in-app features, behavior change techniques, and behavior models used in the studies. In addition, our review found that less than half (19/46, 41%) of the studies based their nutrition apps on a behavioral theory or its constructs. Of the 46 studies, 11 (24%) measured maintenance of health behavior change, of which 7 (64%) sustained behavior change for approximately 6 to 12 months and 4 (36%) showed a decline in behavior change or discontinued app use.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that mHealth apps involving nutrition can significantly improve health outcomes in people with chronic diseases. Tailoring nutrition apps to specific populations is recommended for effective behavior change and improvement of health outcomes. In addition, some studies (7/46, 15%) showed sustained health behavior change, and some (4/46, 9%) showed a decline in the use of nutrition apps. These results indicate a need for further investigation on the sustainability of the health behavior change effectiveness of disease-specific nutrition apps.

Mobile-based program improves healthy eating of ulcerative colitis patients: A pilot study

Background

Dietary management plays a crucial role in the treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). While various e-services provide dietary advice, the long-term dietary management requires continuous monitoring and dynamic adjustment to accommodate the evolving nature of the disease and meet the patients' nutritional needs. Consequently, the development of a novel dietary management tool that incorporates diet tracking, personalized nutritional feedback, and evidence-based advice becomes imperative. This study aims to address this need by developing a WeChat applet called "HealthyGut" specifically designed for the dietary management of UC patients, and evaluate its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy.

Methods

A total of 134 UC patients were equally allocated into the intervention group (receiving a 12-week mobile-based dietary management via HealthyGut) and control group (receiving a paper-based food diary and routine advice). The feasibility outcomes were recruitment, retention, engagement, satisfaction, and acceptability in the intervention group. Dietary intakes were effective outcomes.

Results

Both groups had satisfactory retention rates (89.6% and 77.6%, respectively). The System Usability Scale in the intervention group yielded "good usability" with a mean score of 79.63 (SD 7.39), and all participants reported good user experiences and perceived benefits after using HealthyGut. At week 12, intervention responders reported significantly higher daily energy intake than control group (Z = -3.089, p = 0.002).

Conclusions and Implications

The results display that HealthyGut as a dietary management tool is feasible and accepted by UC patients, and it may help them make healthier food choices. Larger sample studies should be considered in the future.

Cultural and Digital Health Literacy Appropriateness of App- and Web-Based Systems Designed for Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing dramatically. Mobile technologies to enhance patient self-management offer many advantages for women diagnosed with GDM. However, to our knowledge, although mobile health (mHealth) and telemedicine systems for GDM management exist, evidence on their cultural and digital health literacy appropriateness levels is limited.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed to search and assess the literature on mHealth and telemedicine systems designed for women diagnosed with GDM. Our assessment of these technologies focused on their cultural and digital health literacy appropriateness as well as the systems' effectiveness in improving glycemic control and maternal and infant outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review using a framework adapted from Arksey and O'Malley. Four electronic databases were searched for relevant studies: PubMed, MEDLINE (EBSCO), Web of Science, and Scopus. The databases were searched between January 2010 and January 2022. The inclusion criteria were pregnant women diagnosed with GDM, use of telemedicine for monitoring and management, and vulnerable or disadvantaged patients. We used terms related to mobile apps and telemedicine: GDM, vulnerable populations, periphery, cultural appropriateness, and digital health literacy. Studies were screened and selected independently by 2 authors. We extracted the study data on a Microsoft Excel charting table and categorized them into final themes. The results were categorized according to the cultural and digital health literacy features presented.

RESULTS

We identified 17 studies that reported on 12 telemedicine and mHealth app interventions. We assessed the studies in three domains: cultural appropriateness, digital health literacy, and maternal and infant outcomes. In the literature, we found that existing digital technologies may improve glycemic control and diabetes self-management. However, there is a lack of assessment of cultural and digital health literacy appropriateness for pregnant women diagnosed with GDM. Considerations in app design regarding cultural appropriateness were found in only 12% (2/17) of the studies, and only 25% (3/12) of the interventions scored ≥3 out of 5 in our assessment of digital health literacy.

CONCLUSIONS

mHealth and telemedicine can be an effective platform to improve the clinical management of women with GDM. Although studies published on the use of mHealth and telemedicine systems exist, there is a limited body of knowledge on the digital health literacy and cultural appropriateness of the systems designed for women diagnosed with GDM. In addition, as our study was restricted to the English language, relevant studies may have been excluded. Further research is needed to evaluate, design, and implement better tailored apps regarding cultural and digital literacy appropriateness for enhancing pregnant women's self-management as well as the effectiveness of these apps in improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

Web-based interventions for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

INTRODUCTION

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most prevalent diseases during pregnancy, which is closely associated with many short-term and long-term maternal and neonatal complications and can incur heavy financial burden on both families and society. Web-based interventions have been used to manage GDM because of the advantages of high accessibility and flexibility, but their effectiveness has remained inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to comprehensively investigate the multidimensional effectiveness of web-based interventions for pregnant women with GDM, thereby aiding implementation decisions in clinical settings.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This systematic review protocol strictly adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. Six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO) will be comprehensively searched from their inception to 26 January 2022 to identify randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials regarding the efficacy of web-based interventions for pregnant women with GDM on glycaemic control, behavioural outcomes, cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, mental health, maternal and neonatal clinical outcomes, and medical service utilisation and costs. Two reviewers will independently conduct the study selection, data extraction and quality assessment. The methodological quality of included studies will be assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project assessment tool. The overall meta-analyses for each of the interested outcomes will be performed if the outcome data are sufficient and provides similar effect measures, as well as subgroup analyses for glycaemic control indicators based on the different types of intervention format, interactivity and technology. We will conduct a qualitative synthesis for studies that cannot be quantitatively synthesised.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval is not required for this review as no human participants will be involved. The results will be disseminated via a peer-reviewed journal or an academic conference.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022296625.

Use of a smartphone-based, interactive blood glucose management system in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A pilot study

AIMS

To determine patient satisfaction, impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes and resource utilisation of a smartphone-based, remote blood glucose level (BGL) monitoring platform with software surveillance inwomen with gestational diabetes (GDM) compared with historical controls.

METHODS

This intervention study prospectively enrolled 98 women with GDM to the NET-Health smartphone-based application and compared them to 94 historical controls. The application allows automatic, real-time BGL upload to a central server for software monitoring, with automatic alerts generated for out-of-range results. Data recorded included demographics, outcomes and occasions of service (OOS). A validated satisfaction questionnaire was completed post-delivery.

RESULTS

The groups had comparable baseline characteristics and no significant difference in maternal and neonatal outcomes. The NET-Health application intervention reduced resource utilisation, with 1.9 fewer OOS and 37 min less clinician time - equivalent to AUD$68 saved per woman (based on clinician time only) or AUD$23 after taking into account the cost of the application. Patient satisfaction was high.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of this smartphone-based application with software surveillance in women with GDM has high patient satisfaction and no differences in maternal or neonatal outcomes despite reduced resource utilisation. It is the first to demonstrate a financial benefit. Larger studies are needed.

[Smart sensors in pregnancy: Narrative review on the use of smart home technology in routine prenatal care]

INTRODUCTION

Today's routine prenatal care in Germany includes regular in-person appointments of pregnant women with doctors or midwives. Considering an increasing digitalization of the health care sector and in view of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency of in-person visits could be reduced by remote monitoring using smart sensor technology. We aim to give an overview of the current international research on the use of smart sensors in prenatal care and its benefits, costs and resource consumption.

METHODS

For this narrative review, PubMed and Science Direct were searched for clinical trials using smart sensors in prenatal care published in English or German language from 1/2016 to 12/2020. We included studies which addressed the benefits, costs and resource consumption of this innovative technology.

RESULTS

We identified 13 projects using smart sensors in the fields of basic prenatal care, prenatal care for patients with hypertensive disease in pregnancy and prenatal care for women with gestational diabetes. The projects detected positive effects of smart sensors on health care costs and resource consumption and at least equal benefits for the pregnant women.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The current COVID-19 pandemic underlines the need for the introduction of smart sensor technology into German prenatal care routine. Remote monitoring could easily reduce the frequency of in-person visits by half. Smart sensor concepts could be approved as digital health applications in Germany. In order to increase user acceptance, there should not be any additional costs for pregnant women and health care professionals using modern health care apps. However, health insurance providers need to invest in smart sensor technology in order to eventually benefit from it.