Persuasive Social Support Features in Diabetes Self-Management mHealth Applications

Authors

Elena Vlahu-Gjorgievska, University of WollongongFollow
Amer Salem AlkorbiFollow
Mohammed Mithqab NushayliFollow
Khin Than Win, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

140540

Publication Details

Vlahu-Gjorgievska, E., Alkorbi, A., Nushayli, M. & Win, K. (2019). Persuasive Social Support Features in Diabetes Self-Management mHealth Applications. Australasian Conference on Information Systems (pp. 495-504).

Abstract

Diabetes self-management is a challenging task and mobile health (mHealth) applications are one of the options that can assist and support the users in that process. The aim of this paper is to identify the social support features presented in these mHealth applications. Ten applications were selected and analysed based on the literature review and search of the phrase 'The Best Diabetes Apps of 2018' with the Google search engine. The results indicated that some social support features have been implemented in these applications however, its presence is sporadical. There is a need for further development of these apps, introducing and utilising features for social support such as social facilitation, cooperation, competition and recognition.