Last updated May 29, 2026
Key finding
In this 3-month pre-post study, a nurse-led instructional WhatsApp group was linked with better diabetes self-care scores and a moderate drop in HbA1c among women with type 2 diabetes.
This study followed 62 women with type 2 diabetes in Saudi Arabia during a 3-month WhatsApp education program. Self-care scores improved across all measured areas, and average HbA1c fell from 8.61% to 7.92%. Because there was no separate control group, the size of the true intervention effect remains uncertain.
Quick read
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EvidenceScore™
Low
Study type
non-randomized clinical trial (non-RCT or NRCT)
Follow-up
Short-Term (≤3 mo)
Risk of bias
High Risk
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Plain-language summary
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Study focus
In this 3-month pre-post study, a nurse-led instructional WhatsApp group was linked with better diabetes self-care scores and a moderate drop in HbA1c among women with type 2 diabetes.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Alhazmy RS, Khalil AH, Almutary H. Effects of an instructional WhatsApp group on self-care and HbA1c among female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. PLoS One. 2024;19(9):e0305845. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0305845
↓ HbA1c changed from 8.61% to 7.92% over 3 months
↑ Total diabetes self-care score improved from 96.35 to 132.10
↑ Self-care domains improved across diet, exercise, monitoring, adherence, follow-up, and foot care
Evidence network
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This study contributes evidence to Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care and Diabetes self-management behaviors, HbA1c.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care
Primary outcomes
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Primary intervention
Primary outcomes
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
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Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
4
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2
Evidence pairs
474
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Contributes evidence
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Contributes evidence
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Contributes evidence
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Contributes evidence
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Primary evidence
Evidence topic
matched_intervention_and_outcome
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Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care → Diabetes self-management behaviors
Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care → Diabetes self-management behaviors
Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care → HbA1c
Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care → HbA1c
Evidence Library
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Adult women with type 2 diabetes
Findings come from a pre-post design, not a randomized trial
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Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care and Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy, Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care and HbA1c.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies measuring Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy
Measures Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy as a key outcome.
All studies measuring HbA1c
Measures HbA1c as a key outcome.
All studies on Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care
Contributes to Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care evidence base.
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2 results
2 results
2 results
2 results
2 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care may improve Diabetes self-management behaviors.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
Diabetes self-management behaviors
EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 67.3 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Instructional WhatsApp group for diabetes self-care may improve HbA1c.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
HbA1c
EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 65.3 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
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