Publication: Comparing a social and communication app, telephone intervention, and usual care for diabetes self-management: 3-Arm quasiexperimental evaluation study
Issued Date
2020-01-01
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22915222
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2-s2.0-85085904615
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
JMIR mHealth and uHealth. Vol.8, No.6 (2020)
Suggested Citation
Ching Ju Chiu, Yung Chen Yu, Ye Fong Du, Yi Ching Yang, Jou Yin Chen, Li Ping Wong, Chanuantong Tanasugarn Comparing a social and communication app, telephone intervention, and usual care for diabetes self-management: 3-Arm quasiexperimental evaluation study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth. Vol.8, No.6 (2020). doi:10.2196/14024 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/58307
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Title
Comparing a social and communication app, telephone intervention, and usual care for diabetes self-management: 3-Arm quasiexperimental evaluation study
Abstract
© 2020 Ching-Ju Chiu, Yung-Chen Yu, Ye-Fong Du, Yi-Ching Yang, Jou-Yin Chen, Li-Ping Wong, Chanuantong Tanasugarn. Background: Many technology-assisted innovations have been used to manage disease. However, most of these innovations are not broadly used by older adults due to their cost. Additionally, disease management through technology-assisted innovations has not been compared with other interventions. Objective: In this study, we tested the employment of a free and widely used social and communication app to help older adults with diabetes manage their distress and glycemic control. We also compared the effectiveness of the app with 2 other methods, namely telephone and conventional health education, and determined which subgroup experiences the most effects within each intervention. Methods: Adults aged ≥50 years with type 2 diabetes were recruited from Southern Taiwan (N=231) and were allocated to different 3-month interventions. Informed consent was obtained at the Ministry of Science and Technology and approved by the National Cheng Kung University Hospital Institutional Review Board (No. A-ER-102-425). Results: Participants in the mobile-based group had significant reductions in hemoglobin A1c compared with the telephone-based and usual care groups (mean changes of -0.4%, 0.1%, and 0.03%, respectively; P=.02). Diabetes-specific distress decreased to a greater extent in the mobile-based group compared to the other 2 groups (mean changes of -5.16, -3.49, and -2.44, respectively, P=.02). Subgroup analyses further revealed that the effects on reducing blood glucose levels in the social and communication app groups were especially evident in patients with lower distress scores, and diabetes-related distress was especially evident in participants who were younger than 60 years or had higher educational levels. Conclusions: The findings of this study inform more flexible use of social and communication apps with in-person diabetes education and counselling.