Effectiveness of mHealth-Based Self-Management Interventions on Self-Efficacy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth-based self-management interventions on self-efficacy among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across Medline, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and OVID databases. Analyses were performed using the meta and metafor packages in R programming. The restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method and Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman (HKSJ) adjustment were applied to rigorously estimate random effects. Results: The analysis included 9 high-quality randomized controlled trials published between 2014 and 2022, with a total of 1,116 participants. The standardized mean difference was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.16-1.78, t = 2.75, P = .02), indicating a significant effect. Conclusion The findings suggest that mHealth-based self-management interventions significantly enhance self-efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Improved self-efficacy fosters better self-management, ultimately leading to enhanced health outcomes in patients with diabetes. These interventions provide a valuable tool for patients, particularly those who are unable to attend in-person sessions, to effectively manage their condition and potentially reduce complications associated with diabetes. The integration of mHealth into routine diabetes care can play a critical role in supporting ongoing self-management and improving overall health.