The role of smartphone-based education on the risk perception of type 2 diabetes in women with gestational diabetes

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) might ignore adherence to their treatment regimen and can be exposed to an increased risk of type II diabetes due to unawareness, a lack of access to healthcare services, and a poor perception of the disease. This study aimed to describe the effect of smartphone-education on risk-perception of type 2 diabetes in women with gestational diabetes. This quasi-experimental study included 90 pregnant women with gestational diabetes (n = 45 in each group) who were referred to the Yas hospital in Tehran, Iran. The gestational diabetes application was installed on the smartphones of members of the intervention group. The members of the control group only received routine prenatal education. The type 2 diabetes risk perception questionnaire was completed by both groups before and 6 wks after the intervention. The data were analyzed with chi-squared, paired-t, independent t, and Fisher exact tests, and a covariance analysis was applied using SPSS-16 software. Statistical significance was determined as a level of less than 0.05 in this study. The risk perception of type 2 diabetes differed between the two groups (p < 0.001), comparing the data that was collected before and 6 wks after the intervention. The intervention group members had more score changes. The smartphone-based education also resulted in lower average scores of the optimistic bias category among the intervention group members. Smartphone-based education provides a beneficial method of education due to the popularity, accessibility, and affordability of smartphones. Smartphones can be used to increase the risk perception of type II diabetes of women with gestational diabetes and accordingly decrease the rate of type II diabetes.