Healthc Inform Res.  2018 Jul;24(3):187-197. 10.4258/hir.2018.24.3.187.

Self-management of Chronic Conditions Using mHealth Interventions in Korea: A Systematic Review

• Yi JY
• Kim Y
• Cho YM
• Kim H

• KMID: 2418169
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2018.24.3.187

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Population aging has increased the burden of chronic diseases globally. mHealth is often cited as a viable solution to enhance the management of chronic conditions. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of mHealth interventions for the self-management of chronic diseases in Korea, a highly-connected country with a high chronic care burden.
METHODS
Five databases were searched for relevant empirical studies that employed randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental methods published in English or Korean from the years 2008 to 2018. The selected studies were reviewed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The selected studies were classified using the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory conceptual framework.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, 9 of which were targeted towards diabetes management, and 7 of which were RCTs. Other target diseases included hypertension, stroke, asthma, and others. mHealth interventions were primarily delivered through smartphone applications, mobile phones connected to a monitoring device, and short message services (SMS). Various self-management processes were applied, including providing social influence and support, and facilitating self-monitoring and goal setting. Eleven studies showed mHealth interventions to be effective in improving self-management behaviors, biomarkers, or patient-reported outcome measures associated with chronic diseases.
CONCLUSIONS
While the number of identified studies was not large, none reported negative impacts of mHealth on selected outcomes. Future studies on mHealth should design interventions with a greater variety of targeted functions and should adopt more rigorous methodologies to strengthen the evidence for its effectiveness in chronic disease management.

Keyword

Mobile Applications; Medical Informatics; Chronic Disease; Self Care; Review

MeSH Terms

Aging
Asthma
Biomarkers
Chronic Disease
Humans
Hypertension
Korea*
Medical Informatics
Mobile Applications
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Self Care*
Smartphone
Stroke
Telemedicine*
Biomarkers

Figure

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  Figure 1 The individual and family self-management theory. Modified with permission of the authors [13] from: https://uwm.edu/nursing/about/centers-institutes/self-management/theory/.

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  Figure 2 Flow diagram of the study selection process using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RCT: randomized controlled trial.

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