title: Using telecommunication technology to manage children with diabetes: the Computer-Linked Outpatient Clinic (CLOC) Study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using a telecommunication system to assist in the outpatient management of pediatric patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Metabolic control, patients' psychosocial status, family functioning, perceived quality of life, patterns of parental/child responsibility for daily diabetes maintenance, and nursing time-on-task were evaluated. One hundred six pediatric patients (mean age = 13.3 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental or control outpatient clinic for 1 year. Experimental subjects transmitted self-monitoring blood glucose data by modem to the hospital every 2 weeks. Transmitted data were reviewed by nurse practitioners who telephoned subjects to discuss regimen adjustments. Control subjects received standard care with regimen adjustments made by physicians. There were no significant between-group differences for metabolic control, rates of hospitalization or emergency-room visits, psychological status, general family functioning, quality of life, or parent-child responsibility. A significant decrease was noted in nursing time-on-task for experimental subjects.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Marrero
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vandagriff
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kronz
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Fineberg
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013685:Telecommunications