Few Touch

Description:

The Few Touch mobile application is designed to be a diabetes self-management tool and is compatible with phones with a Windows operating system. The program includes a blood glucose sensor, a step counter for recording physical activity and means to record your food intake. You can also set yourself personal goals and monitor your success. Additionally, general information and advice relating to diabetes is included in the program. By providing you with an overview of your condition, the idea is that it will help motivate you to be more physically active, achieve nutritionally healthy eating habits and help to keep your blood glucose stable.

Service URL:

http://telemed.custompublish.com/diabetes-and-self-management.4982935-162159.html

Agency Responsible:

Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine, University Hospital of North Norway.

Mobile Platform:

Other.

Details

Format:

Smartphone Application.

Intervention Type:

Lifestyle (e.g. physical activity, diet).

Course Structure:

No Set Course.

Course Length:

Moderate (2-5 modules).

Support Option:

No support.

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Diabetes.

Target Audience:

Adult.

Language:

Norwegian. Few Touch is also available in English

Access

Mobile platforms:

Other:

Compatible with mobile telephones with a Windows operating system

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Closed: Research participation.

Contact Details:

Eirik.Arsand@telemed.no

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

The feasibility and usability of the Few Touch application has been investigated in several studies and its effectiveness has also been examined in one study to date. 12 participatants with type 2 diabetes, aged 44-70, trialled the application over a period of 6 months. Overall feedback from the participants supported the application's useability and some users were also motivated to make adjustments to their food habits and/or physical activity. Using data collected from these participants, researchers have also considered the use of the mobile app to transmit information to physicians. Further controlled studies involving the use of this application with patients with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are currently being carried out.

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

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Research paper citations

Evaluation evidence studies:
Årsand, E., Tatara, N., Østengen, G., Hartvigsen, G. (2010) Mobile Phone-Based Self-Management Tools for Type 2 Diabetes: The Few Touch Application. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 4 (2): 328-336

Hartvigsen, G., Årsand, E., Botsis, T., van Vuurden, K., Johansen, M., Bellika, J.G. (2009) Reusing Patient Data to Enhance Patient Empowerment and Electronic Disease Surveillance. The Journal on Information Technology in Healthcare, 7 (1): 4-12.

Skrøvseth, S. O., Godtliebsen, F. (2011) Scale space methods for analysis of type 2 diabetes patients' blood glucose values.  Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine.

Additional references:
Årsand, E. and Demiris, G. (2008) User-centered methods for designing patient-centric self-help tools.  Informatics for Health and Social Care, 33 (3): 158-69.

Årsand, E., Tufano, J. T., Ralston, J. D., Hjortdahl, P. (2008) Designing mobile dietary management support technologies for people with diabetes.  Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 14: 329-332