Usability of self-care (mHealth) apps among diabetes patients in Fiji: a task-based cross-device study with first-time users

Purpose Self-care (mHealth) apps play an important role in chronic disease management by enabling patients to track medications, monitor routines and adopt healthier lifestyles. In Fiji, where diabetes prevalence is among the highest globally, such apps could enhance self-management. However, the effectiveness of these tools depends significantly on usability during the onboarding process. Given that smartphones and tablets differ in screen size and input methods, user performance on these devices may vary. Design/methodology/approach This study evaluated the onboarding usability of self-care apps among diabetes patients in Fiji. A task-based usability evaluation was conducted with first-time users on both smartphones and tablets. Findings Findings showed that although most participants completed the assigned tasks, smartphones presented greater usability challenges. These included higher error rates, longer task completion times and lower satisfaction levels compared to tablets. Originality/value The results emphasize the importance of device-specific design considerations for mHealth applications. These insights are valuable to app developers and health policymakers in Fiji seeking to improve the adoption and effectiveness of self-care apps for diabetes management.