Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsResearch in context
Summary: Background: Self-management is pivotal in addressing noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes. The increased availability of digital behaviour change interventions (DBCIs) delivered through mobile health apps offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance self-management and improve healt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-05-01
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| Series: | EBioMedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396424001269 |
| _version_ | 1827292128670121984 |
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| author | Rosanna Tarricone Francesco Petracca Liv Svae Maria Cucciniello Oriana Ciani |
| author_facet | Rosanna Tarricone Francesco Petracca Liv Svae Maria Cucciniello Oriana Ciani |
| author_sort | Rosanna Tarricone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Background: Self-management is pivotal in addressing noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes. The increased availability of digital behaviour change interventions (DBCIs) delivered through mobile health apps offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance self-management and improve health outcomes. However, little is known about the characteristics of DBCIs for diabetes that significantly impact glycaemic control. Therefore, our systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to summarize characteristics and behaviour change components in DBCIs for diabetes self-management and explore potential associations with metabolic outcomes. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus to identify randomized controlled trials published until November 2023. The main outcome variable was the change in the mean difference of HbA1c levels between baseline and follow-up across intervention and control groups. Random-effects meta-regression was used to explore variation in glycaemic control as a function of prespecified characteristics of study designs and app interventions. Findings: A total of 57 studies was included in the analysis, showing a statistically significant percentage point reduction in HbA1c for the intervention group compared to the control arm (−0.36, 95% CI = −0.46 to −0.26, p < 0.001). The inclusion of “self-monitoring of behaviour” as a behaviour change technique (β = −0.22, p = 0.04) and “taking medication” as a target behaviour (β = −0.20, p = 0.05) was associated with improved metabolic outcomes. Interpretation: Our analyses endorse the use of diabetes self-management apps, highlighting characteristics statistically associated with intervention effectiveness and guiding the design of more effective DBCIs. Funding: This project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:51:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-91e800ee818e49a2bcfc12199ff9a3f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-3964 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:51:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EBioMedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-91e800ee818e49a2bcfc12199ff9a3f82024-04-06T04:40:02ZengElsevierEBioMedicine2352-39642024-05-01103105091Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsResearch in contextRosanna Tarricone0Francesco Petracca1Liv Svae2Maria Cucciniello3Oriana Ciani4Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy; Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), Government, Health and Not for Profit Division, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, ItalyCentre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), Government, Health and Not for Profit Division, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, Italy; Corresponding author. Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), Government, Health and Not for Profit Division, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Via Sarfatti 10, 20136, Milan, Italy.Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), Government, Health and Not for Profit Division, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy; Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), Government, Health and Not for Profit Division, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, ItalyCentre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), Government, Health and Not for Profit Division, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, ItalySummary: Background: Self-management is pivotal in addressing noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes. The increased availability of digital behaviour change interventions (DBCIs) delivered through mobile health apps offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance self-management and improve health outcomes. However, little is known about the characteristics of DBCIs for diabetes that significantly impact glycaemic control. Therefore, our systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to summarize characteristics and behaviour change components in DBCIs for diabetes self-management and explore potential associations with metabolic outcomes. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus to identify randomized controlled trials published until November 2023. The main outcome variable was the change in the mean difference of HbA1c levels between baseline and follow-up across intervention and control groups. Random-effects meta-regression was used to explore variation in glycaemic control as a function of prespecified characteristics of study designs and app interventions. Findings: A total of 57 studies was included in the analysis, showing a statistically significant percentage point reduction in HbA1c for the intervention group compared to the control arm (−0.36, 95% CI = −0.46 to −0.26, p < 0.001). The inclusion of “self-monitoring of behaviour” as a behaviour change technique (β = −0.22, p = 0.04) and “taking medication” as a target behaviour (β = −0.20, p = 0.05) was associated with improved metabolic outcomes. Interpretation: Our analyses endorse the use of diabetes self-management apps, highlighting characteristics statistically associated with intervention effectiveness and guiding the design of more effective DBCIs. Funding: This project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396424001269Behaviour changeBehavioural theoriesSelf-managementDigital technologiesMobile appsDiabetes |
| spellingShingle | Rosanna Tarricone Francesco Petracca Liv Svae Maria Cucciniello Oriana Ciani Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsResearch in context EBioMedicine Behaviour change Behavioural theories Self-management Digital technologies Mobile apps Diabetes |
| title | Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsResearch in context |
| title_full | Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsResearch in context |
| title_fullStr | Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsResearch in context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsResearch in context |
| title_short | Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsResearch in context |
| title_sort | which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self management mobile apps results from a systematic review and meta analysis of randomised controlled trialsresearch in context |
| topic | Behaviour change Behavioural theories Self-management Digital technologies Mobile apps Diabetes |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396424001269 |
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