Self-management of type 2 diabetes using a co-designed text based mobile health (mHealth) intervention in Nepal: A study protocol for randomised controlled trial

Namuna Shrestha; Padam Simkhada; Om Kurmi; Shiva Gautam; Biraj Karmacharya; Akina Shrestha; Rajendra Tamrakar; Ak Narayan Poudel

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0335333

Self-management of type 2 diabetes using a co-designed text based mobile health (mHealth) intervention in Nepal: A study protocol for randomised controlled trial

Namuna Shrestha
, Padam Simkhada
, Om Kurmi
, Shiva Gautam
, Biraj Karmacharya
, Akina Shrestha
, Rajendra Tamrakar
, Ak Narayan Poudel

University of Huddersfield
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
Kathmandu University Hospital

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Mobile health (mHealth) is increasingly being used for managing chronic diseases proving its feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness in improving the health outcomes. However, effectiveness of mHealth intervention for self-management of Type 2 diabetes remains unexplored in the context of Nepal. This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a co-designed text based mobile health intervention for self-management of Type 2 diabetes in Nepal. We will conduct a six month, two arm (1:1) parallel group randomised control trial involving 154 adults with Type 2 diabetes. The primary outcome includes change in haemoglobin A1c level at six months follow up. Secondary outcomes include change in self-management outcomes such as self-efficacy, perceived support, diabetes related stress, health related quality of life and self-care activities. Primary and secondary outcomes will be summarized descriptively, and comparisons will be made using chi-square tests for categorical data and independent sample t-tests for continuous data. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06623006).

Original language	English
Article number	e0335333
Number of pages	13
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335333
Publication status	Published - 4 Nov 2025

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This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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title = "Self-management of type 2 diabetes using a co-designed text based mobile health (mHealth) intervention in Nepal: A study protocol for randomised controlled trial",

abstract = "Mobile health (mHealth) is increasingly being used for managing chronic diseases proving its feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness in improving the health outcomes. However, effectiveness of mHealth intervention for self-management of Type 2 diabetes remains unexplored in the context of Nepal. This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a co-designed text based mobile health intervention for self-management of Type 2 diabetes in Nepal. We will conduct a six month, two arm (1:1) parallel group randomised control trial involving 154 adults with Type 2 diabetes. The primary outcome includes change in haemoglobin A1c level at six months follow up. Secondary outcomes include change in self-management outcomes such as self-efficacy, perceived support, diabetes related stress, health related quality of life and self-care activities. Primary and secondary outcomes will be summarized descriptively, and comparisons will be made using chi-square tests for categorical data and independent sample t-tests for continuous data. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06623006).",

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AU - Kurmi, Om

AU - Gautam, Shiva

AU - Karmacharya, Biraj

AU - Shrestha, Akina

AU - Tamrakar, Rajendra

AU - Poudel, Ak Narayan

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Self-management of type 2 diabetes using a co-designed text based mobile health (mHealth) intervention in Nepal: A study protocol for randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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