Patients’ perspectives on mobile health applications for diabetes self-management: A qualitative study in Malaysia

Background Despite the potential of mobile health applications for diabetes self-management, patient adoption rates remain low. Understanding patient perspectives is crucial for developing effective and user-friendly solutions that can improve diabetes self-care and education. Objective This study aimed to explore Malaysian patients’ perspectives on the use of mobile health applications for diabetes self-management. Methods Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 16 diabetes patients across Malaysia. Interviews were conducted via video conferencing, recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. Participants ranged in age from 24 to 70 years with diabetes duration from 6 to 27 years. Results Five key themes emerged: (1) limited adoption and awareness, (2) barriers to use, (3) localization and personalization needs, (4) healthcare system integration gaps, and (5) support preferences. Patients expressed interest in mobile health applications but faced significant barriers including economic constraints, technical difficulties, and behavioural challenges. Key desired features included automated glucose monitoring, localized food databases, educational content, and seamless communication with healthcare providers. Conclusion While patients recognize the potential benefits of mobile health applications for diabetes self-management, successful implementation requires addressing economic barriers, improving digital literacy, developing culturally appropriate content, and ensuring seamless integration with clinical care. Future development should prioritize user-friendly interfaces, affordability, and comprehensive support features that align with patients’ daily management needs.