Healthcare Informatics Research  2014;20(4):288-294

doi:10.4258/hir.2014.20.4.288

Effectiveness of the Smart Care Service for Diabetes Management.

Young Soon CHUNG 1 ; Yongsuk KIM ; Chang Hee LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

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

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

MeSH

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.