Designing the Critical Informational Components of a Smartphone Application for Gestational Diabetes Self‐Management

Aims: The prevention and management of gestational diabetes mellitus and its adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes are critical for health promotion. Mobile health interventions have the potential to support effective self-management in this population. This study aimed to identify and analyze the critical informational components and functional capabilities required for developing a mobile self-management application tailored for women with gestational diabetes, based on expert perspectives. Instrument & Methods: This applied study was conducted in ۲۰۲۵ through four sequential phases. The present research represented the first phase of a four-stage cycle for developing a mobile app for the self-management of gestational diabetes, including needs assessment, design, implementation, and evaluation. A comprehensive review of scientific literature and clinical guidelines from reputable databases was performed to extract critical components. Based on the study objectives, a researcher-designed questionnaire utilizing a Likert scale was developed and administered to a panel of ۲۰ experts from the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, endocrinology and metabolism, medical informatics, and health information management. Data were analyzed using SPSS version ۲۶. Findings: Patient profile, educational information, medication, self-management recommendations, and functional capabilities constitute the most important informational areas for developing a mobile self-management app for women with gestational diabetes. Conclusion: The development of self-management applications for gestational diabetes should be grounded in targeted education, precise monitoring, and advanced functional capabilities to provide an effective and reliable tool for improving maternal health and preventing complications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ، Self-Management ، Mobile Health ، Mobile Application ، Needs Assessment