Understanding the Lived Experiences and Perspectives of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with their Adherence to Self-care Management Activities after Educational Interventions through Short Mobile Messages: A Structured Literature Review of Qualitative Research

Abstract

Aim: This review aimed to explore the lived experiences of adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with adhering to self-care management activities after educational interventions through short mobile messages (SMMs).

Background: The increasing global incidence of T2DM has highlighted the need for efficient interventions that enable patients to take control of their disease and avert future complications. Several studies have examined the quantitative effects of SMM-based interventions, but fewer studies have investigated the subtleties of patients’ experiences and perspectives of these interventions from a qualitative perspective. Hence, this structured literature review was conducted to shed light on the lived experiences of adult T2DM patients with adhering to self-care management care using SMMs.

Methodology: Peer-reviewed English-language qualitative studies published in 2019–2023 were comprehensively searched on the online databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ProQuest Central, Embase, Web of Science, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and the Saudi Digital Library. After they were screened using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (2020) criteria, six studies were selected. A single reviewer reviewed them under the supervision of an experienced and qualified supervisor. The data extraction was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI, 2023) appraisal scoring tool for qualitative studies.

Results: The total purposive sample of the six studies comprised 149 adult T2DM patients aged 12–34 years. The following five themes emerged from the review: experiences and perspectives regarding SMM use, preferred SMM system features, barriers to the use of SMM apps, facilitators of the use of SMM apps, and suggestions and recommendations for the future usage of SMM apps.

Conclusion: The review found sufficient qualitative evidence that adult T2DM patients perceived SMMs as highly useful for the self-management of their disease.