Healthcare Professionals’ Views of Mobile Application Usage for Gestational Diabetes: An International Online Survey (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Positive health behaviours can benefit pregnancy, particularly for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Mobile health (mHealth) applications are increasingly used to support behaviour change and improve GDM management. However, the successful adoption of these tools in clinical practice is often influenced by their design, functionality, and perceived usability by healthcare professionals. This study explores healthcare professionals' perspectives on the use of mHealth apps for GDM care, focusing on their usability and feature design. OBJECTIVE This study aims to (1) identify the features of mHealth apps currently used in GDM care, (2) evaluate the perceived usability of these apps, and (3) explore the factors influencing their perceived usability. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with qualified healthcare professionals (midwives, obstetricians, nurses, dietitians) who used mHealth apps in antenatal gestational diabetes care. The survey (43 items) included demographics, the App Behaviour Change Scale (ABACUS) and the System Usability Scale (SUS), adapted for relevance and piloted for validity. Recruitment occurred via Qualtrics™ (March–May 2025) using social media, professional networks, and snowballing. Data were analysed descriptively and inferentially in SPSS (v29). ABACUS and SUS scores were correlated using Spearman’s rho, with sensitivity analyses for coding decisions and thematic coding of free-text responses. RESULTS Of 264 survey viewers, 54 healthcare professionals completed full datasets. Most were women (85.5%), midwives or diabetes midwife specialists (54.6%), based in Northern Europe (45.5%), and practising in hospitals (83.6%). Respondents reported using over 30 distinct mHealth apps, most commonly GDm-Health. Apps contained on average 9.9 of 21 behaviour change features, with data recording and feedback most frequent, while behaviour-change elements were less common. Mean usability (SUS) was 70.9/100. A significant negative correlation emerged between ABACUS and SUS scores (ρ = –0.307, p = 0.022), indicating more features were associated with lower perceived usability. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare professionals reported that mHealth apps used for gestational diabetes management predominantly supported robust data management—particularly data recording, evaluation, and clinician–patient communication. While behaviour change and personalised features were recognised as potentially valuable, their addition was often associated with reduced usability, likely due to added complexity. These findings highlight the need for app developers to prioritise high-quality, well-integrated data management while selectively incorporating behaviour change functions that are simple, practical, and aligned with clinical workflows to better support both professionals and women with gestational diabetes. CLINICALTRIAL not applicable