The development of a mobile u-Health program and evaluation for self-diet management for diabetic patients.
10.4162/nrp.2016.10.3.342
- Author:
Yun AHN
1
;
Jeahurn BAE
;
Hee Seon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Seoul Women's University, Seoul 01797, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
u-Health;
mobile program;
diabetic patients
- MeSH:
Calcium;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Diet;
Diet Records;
Feeding Behavior;
Humans;
Meals;
Methyltestosterone;
Mobile Applications;
Sodium
- From:Nutrition Research and Practice
2016;10(3):342-351
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
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.