Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung SM, Lau SLT, Lau YFE, Lam YH, Huang HY, Ho SY, Yam WY, Cho HY, Lo BYE, Lao WC
Affiliation :
Diabetes Ambulatory Center, Department of Medicine, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
Patient empowerment is essential for a successful diabetes self-care management. “mHealth”, refers to the use of mobile technologies for improving health outcomes, is rapidly expanding in today’s digital era. Evidence supports the incorporation of mHealth into the care of patients with diabetes could enhance self-care management and improve glycemic control. “DM care”, developed by New Territories East Cluster hospitals under the Hospital Authority, is a mHealth application specially designed for patients with diabetes. It has 6 items: blood glucose diary, reminders, general information, self-care management, daily living and resources. These functions empower patients to actively engage in their treatment.
Objectives :
To empower self-care management and improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes by using mHealth application “DM care”.
Methodology :
Patients (1)aged ≥18 year-old, (2)belonged to type 1 or type 2 diabetes, (3)could read, understand and speak Cantonese, (4)with HbA1c ≥ 7%, (5)with no cognitive impairment, (6)had smartphones, and (7)were able to write free text in smartphones, were recruited when they attended Diabetes Nurse Clinic. Each enrolled patient was trained on the use of “DM care”. At week 4 to 6, one telephone follow-up was conducted for assessment and reinforcement on the use of “DM care” and self-care management. At week 8 to 12, patients visited Diabetes Nurse Clinic individually. Further education on self-care management by incorporating “DM care” into daily living was given. HbA1c was recorded at baseline and 12 to16 weeks after recruitment. Changes in self-care management were assessed by using Diabetes Self-care Activities questionnaires, collected on enrollment, at telephone follow-up and on last visit.
Result & Outcome :
33 patients, with average age 56.03±11.15 year-old, were recruited from March to May 2018. 22 were males and 11 were females. 2 patients dropped out. For glycemic change, by December 2018, there is a positive preliminary results from 26 patients, with average HbA1c improved from 8.26±1.01% to 7.92±1.34% (p=0.138). In self-care management of the 31 patients, the average number of days per week on: (1)healthy eating habit improved from 4.40 to 4.93 (p=0.356), (2)exercise habit significantly improved from 4.30 to 5.03 (p=0.027), (3)frequency of home blood glucose monitoring significantly increased from 2.50 to 3.30 (p=0.031), and (4)drug compliance improved from 6.83 to 6.86 (p=0.573).
Co-location with:
