Facilitating Informal Learning in a Mobile Application for a Group of Type 2 Diabetics

Many studies have been conducted using mobile technology as a medium for the delivery of health care information but not much research has been done where the learner is the patient. This paper presents a case through the use of a mobile application called Mobile DSMS that allows diabetic patients to share health information relating to their disease with each other. Mobile DSMS allows patients to virtually form support peer groups on self-care despite spatial and temporal differences. This research has two novel dimensions: one being the patient is the learner and the other being the use of mobile technology as a delivery platform for informal learning in health self-care. Through the design of Mobile DSMS, we demonstrate how adult learning, andragogy, can be realized through system features and how the connectivity afforded enables a virtual learning group to be formed.