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Intention of smartphone application usage in diabetes self-management and its associated factors among patients with diabetes: a cross-sectional study


Citation

Lim, Geok Seim and Cheong, Ai Theng and Lee, Ping Yein and Mohamad Shariff, Siti Maisarah (2025) Intention of smartphone application usage in diabetes self-management and its associated factors among patients with diabetes: a cross-sectional study. Malaysian Family Physician, 20 (9). pp. 1-13. ISSN 1985-207X; eISSN: 1985-2274

Abstract

Introduction: Many Malaysians with diabetes lack sufficient knowledge about diabetes selfmanagement. With the widespread adoption of smartphones, mobile health (mHealth) solutions could help empower patients with diabetes to self-manage their condition effectively. This study aimed to determine the intention of patients with diabetes to use diabetes self-management applications (DSMAs) and its associated factors in a primary care setting. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a government health clinic in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur from 1 July to 30 September 2019. We recruited 723 patients with diabetes using systematic random sampling. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate patients’ intention to use DSMAs and its associated factors were determined via multiple logistic regression. Results: Among 719/723 patients with diabetes included in the analysis, 49.9% intended to use DSMAs. Those who had a household income of >RM 6000 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=10.652, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.709–66.398, P<0.011), agreed (AOR=8.959, 95% CI=3.327– 24.128, P<0.001) or neutrally agreed (AOR=3.403, 95% CI=1.188–9.749, P=0.023) with the perceived usefulness of DSMAs, did not have resistance to change (AOR=2.458, 95% CI=1.293– 4.672, P=0.006) and had a facilitating condition (AOR=9.454, 95% CI=2.718–32.881, P<0.001) had higher odds of intending to use DSMAs than their counterparts. Conclusion: Nearly half of patients with diabetes intend to use DSMAs, indicating the potential of DSMAs as alternative tools for assisting in diabetes self-management. Education focusing on the usefulness of DSMAs and exploring facilitating conditions with patients can help increase the intention of patients to use DSMAs.


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Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Subject: Community and Home Care
Subject: Family Practice
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.51866/oa.729
Publisher: Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Mobile health; Primary health care; Selfmanagement
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Depositing User: Ms. Nur Faseha Mohd Kadim
Date Deposited: 17 Jul 2026 03:26
Last Modified: 17 Jul 2026 03:28
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.51866/oa.729
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/127130
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