mHealth studies
| Study, country | Vulnerability/chronic disease | Intervention description | Components and delivery of the intervention | Outcomes assessed | Rigour/relevance |
| Wayne, 2015,41 Canada61 | Low SES community (multiracial) with type 2 diabetes. | Cloud-based platform for mobile phone/software-based health management plus smartphone-based health coaching technology. | Participants received a Samsung Galaxy Ace II mobile phone running on Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.2) with a data-only carrier plan. Patients received a user account with the Connected Wellness Platform (CWP) provided by NexJ Systems, which supported participants in health-related goal setting and progress monitoring. This allowed individual tracking of key metrics, (blood glucose levels, exercise frequency/duration/intensity, food intake (via photo journaling) and mood). HC primarily focused on planning to reach health targets, exercise (frequency, duration and intensity) and modifying diet to to reduce carbohydrate intake. Communication with the HC 24/7 via secure messaging, scheduled phone contact, and/or during inperson meetings. Health data from the CWP were immediately visible to HCs through a secure, web-accessible portal. Participant data and software-enabled communication required two-way certificate-based authentication and passwords that were stored in encrypted columns. Based on patient’s goals, HCs used the 24 hours/day logging function to guide healthy lifestyle choices, while providing support when clients diverged from intended health goals and routines. Concurrent exercise education programme with trainers and blood glucose testing before and after exercise sessions. | HbA1c levels, weight, BMI, waist circumference, psychometric assessment (satisfaction, QoL and mood). | High/thick |
BMI, body mass index; QoL, quality of life; SES, socioeconomic status; HF, heart failure, HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin.