Using mHealth to Provide Mobile App Users With Visualization of Health Checkup Data and Educational Videos on Lifestyle-Related Diseases: Methodological Framework for Content Development

Abstract

Background The number of people with lifestyle-related diseases continues to increase worldwide. Improving lifestyle behavior with health literacy may be the key to address lifestyle-related diseases. The delivery of educational videos using mobile health (mHealth) services can replace the conventional way of educating individuals, and visualization can replace the provision of health checkup data. Objective This paper aimed to describe the development of educational content for MIRAMED, a mobile app aimed at improving users’ lifestyle behaviors and health literacy for lifestyle-related diseases. Methods All videos were based on a single unified framework to provide users with a consistent flow of information. The framework was later turned into a storyboard. The final video contents were created based on this storyboard and further discussions with leading experts and specialist physicians on effective communication with app users about lifestyle-related diseases. Results The app uses visualization of personal health checkup data and educational videos on lifestyle-related diseases based on the current health guidelines, scientific evidence, and expert opinions of leading specialist physicians in the respective fields. A total of 8 videos were created for specific lifestyle-related diseases affecting 8 organs: (1) brain–cerebrovascular disorder, (2) eyes–diabetic retinopathy, (3) lungs–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (4) heart–ischemic heart disease, (5) liver–fatty liver, (6) kidneys–chronic kidney disease (diabetic kidney disease), (7) blood vessels–peripheral arterial disease, and (8) nerves–diabetic neuropathy. Conclusions Providing enhanced mHealth education using novel digital technologies to visualize conventional health checkup data and lifestyle-related diseases is an innovative strategy. Future studies to evaluate the efficacy of the developed content are planned.