: This study sought to understand the most common uses
and functions of mobile phones in monitoring and managing
diabetes, their potential role in a clinical setting, and the current
state of research in this area. Methods: We identified peer-reviewed
articles published between 2000 and 2010. Twenty-one articles were
analyzed for this systematic literature review. Results: The majority
of studies examined the use of mobile phones from the patient’s
perspective. Subjects with type 1 diabetes were enrolled exclusively
in over 50% of the studies. Seventy-one percent of the studies used a
study-specific application, which had supplemental features in addition
to text messaging. The outcomes assessed varied considerably
across studies, but some positive trends were noted, such as
improved self-efficacy, hemoglobin A1c, and self-management behaviors.
Conclusions: The studies evaluated showed promise in
using mobile phones to help people with diabetes manage their
condition effectively. However, many of these studies lacked sufficient
sample sizes or intervention lengths to determine whether the
results might be clinically or statistically significant. Future research
should examine other key issues, such as provider perceptions, integration
into a healthcare practice, and cost, which would provide
important insight into the use of mobile phones for chronic disease
management.
Key words: home health monitori