bant

Description:

bant is a self-management mobile tool targeted at adolescents with type-1 diabetes. It is designed to allow you to quickly and easily record blood glucose readings throughout the day. The app stores this information, allowing you to analyse trends over time and sending you automatic 'trend alerts'. The app also connects you with an online Diabetes community to allow you to share your experiences with others. You receive automated reminders to record blood glucose readings and the trial version of the program also includes a 'reward system' to encourage you to take readings. bant is available for free and is compatible with an iPhone and iPod Touch.

Service URL:

http://www.bantapp.com/

Agency Responsible:

Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University of Health Network.

Mobile Platform:

Apple.

Details

Format:

Smartphone Application.

Intervention Type:

Other. Self-monitoring

Course Structure:

No Set Course.

Course Length:

Moderate (2-5 modules). Readings, Trends and Community sections (and 'Rewards' in the trial version)

Support Option:

Other. Peer support through a link to an online Diabetes community and automated support

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Diabetes. Diabetes (Type 1)

Target Audience:

Adolescent.

Languages:

English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian and German. Also Arabic, Chinese, Korean & Portuguese

Access

Mobile platforms:

Apple:

https://itunes.apple.com/app/bant-a-diabetes-app-for-epatient/id361257571?mt=8

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: No registration required.

Contact Details:

feedback@bantapp.com

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

bant's efficacy has been tested in an initial pilot study. A sample of 20 adolescents aged 12-16 with type 1 diabetes were provided with bant on an iPhone/iPod Touch for a period of 12 weeks. Participants were also given a glucometer with a Bluetooth adapter for automated transfer to bant. As well as sending participants reminders to take blood glucose readings, the trial version of the program also issued participants with 'rewards' (itunes vouchers) for taking readings. Indeed, the app did seem to encourage the adolescents to take frequent blood glucose readings - with participants showing a 50% increase in the average frequency of readings compared to before the trial. However, it is likely this increase was partly related to the 'reward system' that is not available in the public version of bant.

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

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Research paper citations

Cafazzo, J.A., Casselman, M., Hamming, N., Katzman, D.,K., Palmert, M.R. (2012) Design of an mHealth app for the self-management of adolescent type 1 diabetes: a pilot study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14(3). e70.