2.1 Search strategy
Based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), we did our study (39). Databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus were searched from 2000 to July 10, 2018. The searches were not limited by language (studies in other languages were omitted due to incompatibility with the aim of this study).
The searches were done using the keywords of mobile health (m-health) and GDM. For the purpose of this review, m-health was defined as the use of technology to provide healthcare for patients with GDM using short message service (SMS), mobile application, and telemedicine system based on smartphones.
The stages for building the search query for the PubMed database are shown in table 1. With respect to the instructions provided for each database, equivalent searches were then performed. Findings of each study were analyzed, relevant information was extracted, and finally obtained data were synthesized. The objectives and findings of each study are summarized in table 2.