The Effectiveness of Mobile Phone Messaging-Based Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Alsahli, Mohammed; Abd-Alrazaq, Alaa A; Konstantinidis, Stathis; Househ, Mowafa; Blake, Holly

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide. Physical activity (PA) is an important aspect of self-care and first line management for T2DM. SMS text messaging can be used to support self-management in people with T2DM, but the effectiveness of mobile text message-based interventions in increasing PA is still unclear. Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of mobile phone messaging on PA in people with T2DM by summarizing and pooling the findings of previous literature. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to accomplish this objective. Search sources included 5 bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase), the search engine Google Scholar (Google Inc), and backward and forward reference list checking of the included studies and relevant reviews. A total of 2 reviewers (MA and AA) independently carried out the study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quality of evidence evaluation. The results of the included studies were synthesized narratively and statistically, as appropriate. Results: We included 3.8% (6/151) of the retrieved studies. The results of individual studies were contradictory regarding the effectiveness of mobile text messaging on PA. However, a meta-analysis of the results of 5 studies showed no statistically significant effect (P=.16) of text messages on PA in comparison with no intervention. A meta-analysis of the findings of 2 studies showed a nonsignificant effect (P=.14) of text messages on glycemic control. Of the 541 studies, 2 (0.4%) found a nonsignificant effect of text messages on anthropometric measures (weight and BMI). Conclusions: We could not draw a definitive conclusion regarding the effectiveness of text messaging on PA, glycemic control, weight, or BMI among patients with T2MD, given the limited number of included studies and their high risk of bias. Therefore, there is a need for more high-quality primary studies.

Citation

Alsahli, M., Abd-Alrazaq, A. A., Konstantinidis, S., Househ, M., & Blake, H. (2022). The Effectiveness of Mobile Phone Messaging-Based Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(3), Article e29663. https://doi.org/10.2196/29663

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 29, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 8, 2022
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 8, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 1, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Medical Internet Research
• Electronic ISSN: 1438-8871
• Publisher: JMIR Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: e29663
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/29663
• Keywords: Health Informatics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6672605
• Publisher URL: https://www.jmir.org/2022/3/e29663