mHealth Design for patients with Gestational Diabetes

Abstract

In this study, a user-centered design approach was used to develop a mobile health application designed to support gestational diabetic patients with their self-management routine. In the requirements gathering phase, workshops, observational study, surveys and interviews were conducted. An analysis of the data collected from this phase helped identify the functional design requirements used to guide the design. Data visualizations, self-management, motivational behavior, behavior change, carbohydrate counting, activity, blood glucose levels monitoring, and chatting friend features were explored by use of prototyping. The final prototype developed in this research was evaluated for its ease of use and perceived usefulness. The design was found to be easy to use, persuasive, motivating and useful. Concerning data visualizations, participants preferred the line graph view of their readings to a bar chart. Concerning carbohydrate count, picture upload feature was like by participants. It is also found that all participants wanted to have chatting friend named “PregDia advisor” who will help answer all the questions related to gestational diabetes.