Key Considerations for Understanding Usability of Digital Health Initiatives for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Qualitative Literature Review

Abstract

Aims: The rapidly growing number of adults with type 2 diabetes globally means the uses and benefits of digital health initiatives to enhance self-management of diabetes warrant review. This systematic qualitative literature review aimed to understand usability of digital health initiatives for adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This systematic qualitative literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, the PRISMA 2020 Statement methodology. Three databases were used (SCOPUS, Medline, and CINAHL) to identify studies published from 2016 to 2021 that focused on experiences, evaluations, and usability of digital health initiatives aimed at helping adults with type 2 diabetes to self-manage their condition. Results: From the 407 studies identified, 35 studies were assessed for eligibility with 10 studies included in the final synthesis. Five main themes emerged: (1) unmet emotional needs, (2) enhancing self-management, (3) desire for education, (4) usability/user-experience, and (5) risk of biomedical marker reductionism. Conclusions: This review identified 5 key themes for consideration to understand usability of digital health initiatives. If these unmet psychosocial needs of adults with type 2 diabetes are better addressed in digital health initiatives, enhanced daily self-management will lead to more optimal diabetes management which can increase overall health outcomes, reduce the risk of longer-term complications, enhance quality of life for type 2 diabetes and improve more widespread adoption of digital health initiatives.