Nutr Res Pract.  2016 Jun;10(3):342-351. 10.4162/nrp.2016.10.3.342.

The development of a mobile u-Health program and evaluation for self-diet management for diabetic patients

• Ahn Y
• Bae J
• Kim HS

• KMID: 2342138
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2016.10.3.342

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
This study aims to develop a mobile nutritional management program for integration into the already developed web-based program, Diabetes Mellitus Dietary Management Guide (DMDMG) for diabetic patients. Further, we aim to evaluate the amended DMDMG program.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
The mobile application based on an Android operating system includes three parts: 1) record of diet intake, which allows users to take pictures of the meal and save to later add diet records into DMDMG; 2) an alarm system that rings at each meal time, which reminds users to input the data; 3) displays the diet record and the results of nutrient intake, which can be also viewed through the web program. All three parts are linked to the web-based program. A survey was conducted to evaluate the program in terms of nutrition knowledge, dietary attitude, eating behavior and diet intake by non-equivalent control group design among diabetic patients with 14 DMDMG users and 12 non-user controls after a one-month trial of DMDMG.
RESULTS
Non-users did not use the program, but participated in the weekly off-line nutrition classes for one month. The program users showed increased healthful dietary behavior (P < 0.01) and dietary attitude scores (P < 0.05). More DMDMG users had higher nutrition knowledge scores after one-month trial than non-users. However, dietary intake significantly increased in non-user group for calcium and sodium (P < 0.05) while the user group did not show significant changes.
CONCLUSIONS
The program has created positive changes in patients' dietary life. All the users were satisfied with the program, although some expressed minor difficulties with an unfamiliar mobile app.

Keyword

u-Health; mobile program; diabetic patients

MeSH Terms

Calcium
Diabetes Mellitus
Diet
Diet Records
Feeding Behavior
Humans
Meals
Methyltestosterone
Mobile Applications
Sodium
Calcium
Methyltestosterone
Sodium

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flow chart of the program process

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  Fig. 2 The QR code developed for installing application of mobile u-health program

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  Fig. 3 Input screen for recording diet intakes in mobile u-health program

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  Fig. 4 Picture taking apparatus for input of diet and retrieving screen for correction

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  Fig. 5 Addition and correction of diet information after input

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  Fig. 6 Result screen after analyses of dietary intake

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