Plain language summary
Up until recently, gestational diabetes was primarily managed with diet recommendations. However, the current technology boom is bringing the healthcare industry to a whole new level. As a novel approach to managing glucose regulation in women with gestational diabetes, this systematic review evaluated sixteen papers to assess the effectiveness and usability of digital tools such as web-based and smartphone apps. There are a few studies exploring the effectiveness of digital tools considering the ethnic diversity of dietary strategies and the limited evidence-based framework for the development of digital tools. In addition, there is a lack of evidence from low-socioeconomic communities, therefore, more large, robust studies are needed. Some of the participants in the included studies found digital tools to be accessible and feasible. The authors concluded that the use of digital tools could be an effective approach to improving adherence to diet, self-management of a healthy diet, and healthy behaviour in women with gestational diabetes. These results can help healthcare professionals understand the current developments and how technology is applied in clinical practice.
Abstract
Advice on dietary intake is an essential first line intervention for the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Digital tools such as web-based and smartphone apps have been suggested to provide a novel way of providing information on diet for optimal glucose regulation in women with GDM. This systematic review explores the effectiveness and usability of digital tools designed to support dietary self-management of GDM. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, and Scopus using key search terms identified 1476 papers reporting research studies, of which 16 met the specified inclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the ErasmusAGE Quality Score or the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018. The findings show that the adoption of digital tools may be an effective approach to support self-management relating to healthy diet, health behaviour, and adherence to therapy in women with GDM as a usable intervention. However, there is a lack of evidence concerning the effectiveness of tools to support the dietary management of GDM. Consideration for ethnic specific dietary advice and evidence-based frameworks in the development of effective digital tools for dietary management of GDM should be considered as these aspects have been limited in the studies reviewed.
Methodological quality
Jadad score
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Not applicable
Allocation concealment
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No
