Feasibility of using videoconferencing to provide diabetes education: a pilot study.
J Telemed Telecare
; 15(2): 95-7, 2009.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19246610
ABSTRACT
We conducted a pilot study of the effectiveness of individual counselling sessions provided by a dietician through telemedicine for patients with diabetes. All participants received a single group education session via videoconference. Those who were randomized to the intervention also received two additional follow-up sessions, four and eight weeks later. Glycosylated haemoglobin and total cholesterol were measured at the start and again 16 weeks later. The patients completed diabetes quality-of-life and telemedicine patient satisfaction surveys. Thirty-two participants consented to participate. Complete data were collected on 13 intervention and 13 control patients. There was a 1% fall in HbA(1c) in the intervention group from pre- to post-assessment, although this was not significant. The control group showed a significantly larger fall in HbA(1c) levels than the intervention group (P = 0.043). Total cholesterol decreased in both groups, although not significantly. All control and intervention group participants indicated that they would participate in videoconferencing nutritional counselling again. The results suggest that providing nutritional therapy via videoconferencing may be useful in assisting patients to manage their conditions.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Health Education
/
Telemedicine
/
Videoconferencing
/
Diabetes Mellitus
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
Aspects:
Patient_preference
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
J Telemed Telecare
Journal subject:
INFORMATICA MEDICA
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
2009
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States