Use of a Smartphone-based Personal Health Record (PHR) System for Improving Compliance to Lifestyle Modifications in Patients With Diabetes

Abstract

(Objectives) We investigated whether the use of a smartphone personal health record (PHR) application would result in the improvement of HbA1c and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes. (Methods) We analyzed 74 patients (65 men, 9 women) with type 2 diabetes who were treated at our clinic and who were able to use the Welby Mykarte PHR application. We measured HbA1c, body weight, and blood pressure when the patients started using the PHR application, and then monthly for 6 months. Patients were stratified according to the frequency of use of the application (<15 or ≥15 times per month). (Results) HbA1c values improved significantly, from 7.1 % at baseline to 6.9 % at 6 months in all patients. The frequent user group demonstrated a greater improvement (from 7.1 % to 6.7 %) in comparison to the less frequent user group. Both body weight and blood pressure decreased. It should be noted that of the 74 patients, 20 patients changed treatment during the observation period. (Conclusion) These data suggest that better compliance to lifestyle modifications through the use of a PHR application may bring about therapeutic effects, including improved HbA1c.