Mobile Health, Self-Management, Diabetes & the Impact of Self-Efficacy: A Systematic Review of Literature

Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze mHealth trials designed to assist diabetics with the challenges of self-managing their illness through technologically-based and theoretically-informed health interventions, in order to examine both physical and psychological outcomes and to determine the potential impact of technology on these factors. Using Albert Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, this research addressed whether mHealth technology may impact diabetic patient’s self-reported levels of efficacy when used to assist in the self-management of their illness. Search efforts yielded 263 initial articles, 15 studies were selected for analysis. Results indicate a strong correlation between technology-use and improved patient self-efficacy. Evidence supports mHealth trials can also have a positive, statistically-significant impact on physical health outcomes (i.e. HbA1c), and therefore (even with differences in trial design and duration) communication technology can be a useful tool for facilitating improvements to self-efficacy for diabetics over non-technological healthcare models.