Healthc Inform Res.  2014 Oct;20(4):288-294. 10.4258/hir.2014.20.4.288.

Effectiveness of the Smart Care Service for Diabetes Management

• Chung YS
• Kim Y
• Lee CH

• KMID: 2166804
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2014.20.4.288

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Smart Care service for the diabetes management.
METHODS
Fifty-six patients with diabetes mellitus were recruited in Daegu, Korea. All participants completed a diabetes management education course (diet, exercise, and complications) for their self-care and received access to a care management website through a netbook and smartphone. The website accepts uploads of glucose level, body weight, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and blood pressure. Participants communicated with the care manager through the internal management system of the website. The intervention was applied for 6 months.
RESULTS
Participants receiving the Smart Care service had lower blood glucose and HbA1c during 6 months follow-up when 1-month values (p < 0.001) were compared. There was no significant difference in body weight and body mass index between 1 month and 6 months. The average number of remote consultation with the Smart Care service per person was 10.4 by nurses, 3.0 by nutritionists, and 1.6 by sports curers. Regression analysis indicated that the number of times counseling was offered by nurses influences body weight and that the number of minutes of telephone counseling influences both body weight and body mass index.
CONCLUSIONS
We have confirmed that the Smart Care service might be an effective system for reduction in blood glucose and HbA1c. We expect that the Smart Care service will contribute to delaying diabetes complications and improving the quality of life of patients with diabetes.

Keyword

Diabetes Mellitus; Telemedicine; Remote Consultation; Medical Informatics; Health Services

MeSH Terms

Blood Glucose
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Cholesterol
Counseling
Daegu
Diabetes Complications
Diabetes Mellitus
Education
Follow-Up Studies
Glucose
Health Services
Humans
Korea
Lipoproteins
Medical Informatics
Nutritionists
Quality of Life
Remote Consultation
Self Care
Sports
Telemedicine
Telephone
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Glucose
Lipoproteins

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