J Korean Acad Nurs.  2022 Oct;52(5):535-549. 10.4040/jkan.22046.

The Development of Automated Personalized Self-Care (APSC) Program for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Park G
• Lee H
• Khang AR

• KMID: 2534821
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.22046

Abstract

Purpose
The study aimed to design and develop an automated personalized self-care (APSC) program for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The secondary aim was to present a clinical protocol as a mixed-method research to test the program effects.
Methods
The APSC program was developed in the order of analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation according to the software development life cycle, and was guided by the self-regulatory theory. The content validity, heuristics, and usability of the program were verified by experts and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Results
The APSC program was developed based on goal setting, education, monitoring, and feedback components corresponding to the phases of forethought, performance/volitional control, and self-reflection of self-regulatory theory. Using the mobile application, the participants are able to learn from educational materials, monitor their health behaviors, receive weekly-automated personalized goals and feedback messages, and use an automated conversation system to solve the problems related to self-care. The ongoing two-year study utilizes a mixed method design, with 180 patients having type 2 diabetes mellitus randomized to receive either the intervention or usual care. The participants will be reviewed for self-care self-efficacy, health behaviors, and health outcomes at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Participants in the intervention group will be interviewed about their experiences.
Conclusion
The APSC program can serve as an effective tool for facilitating diabetes health behaviors by improving patients’ self-care self-efficacy and self-regulation for self-care. However, the clinical effectiveness of this program requires further investigation.

Keyword

Diabetes Mellitus; Type 2; Self-Control; Automation; Self-Management; Mobile Applications