U-Health Service for Managing Chronic Disease: A Case Study on Managing Metabolic Syndrome in a Health Center in South Korea.
10.4258/hir.2011.17.4.260
- Author:
Tae Min SONG
1
;
Seewon RYU
;
Sang Ho LEE
Author Information
1. Korea Institute for Health and Social Studies, Affairs, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
U-Health;
Metabolic Syndrome;
Effectiveness;
Disease Management
- MeSH:
Disease Management;
Health Behavior;
Republic of Korea
- From:Healthcare Informatics Research
2011;17(4):260-266
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: We were to analyze the effect of managing metabolic syndrome using a u-health service in a health center. METHODS: We collected biometric data from 316 subjects living in a county (gun) in South Korea before and after the introduction of uhealth services in 2010. Analysis was done by contingency table using SPSS and latent growth model using AMOS. RESULTS: We found that regional u-health services affected instance of metabolic syndrome. Further, biometrics and health behavior improved. After six months of u-health services, the number of subjects with three or more factors for metabolic syndrome decreased by 62.5%; 63.3% of regular drinkers stopped drinking; 83.3% of subjects who rarely exercised began to exercise twice a week or more; and 60.9% of smokers stopped smoking. CONCLUSIONS: U-health services can change health behavior and biometrics to manage metabolic syndrome in rural areas. The usefulness of u-health services is discussed.
