Behavioural Changes Using mHealth: An Experimental Case Study

Mauritius has a very high prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, which are often linked to bad eating habits. The use of mHealth applications to bring about positive behavioural changes is practically non-existent in Mauritius since the local unique culinary scene makes it difficult to use such existing applications. The primary objective of this study is to create a customized mHealth application that caters for the peculiarities of the eclectic Mauritian cuisine. MauLifeStyle, a web-based application that caters for calorific content of different types of Mauritian foods and typical activities of the Mauritian population, has been developed and tested using recruited participants. The MauLifeStyle application has been evaluated based on different criteria of MoHTAM, which is a refined technology acceptance model for smart mobile phones. The clinical outcomes were not statistically significant following three months of monitoring. However, the participant feedback supports the demand for digitally mediated self-education for motivated individuals. The developed mHealth application comprises four main functionalities: Blood Glucose Monitoring, Food Intake, Health and Fitness, and Calorie Monitor. It is anticipated that over time, MauLifeStyle has the potential to reduce the prevalence of Diabetes in Mauritius and consequently alleviate the financial burden on the healthcare system through the application of preventive medicine.