Incorporating PDA use in diabetes self-care: a central Texas Primary Care Research Network (CenTexNet) study.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the feasibility of incorporating the use of the personal digital assistant (PDA) in diabetes self-care in primary care.


METHODS
Adults with type 2 diabetes whose last measured HbA1c value was 8.0% or greater were recruited from 4 family practice clinics. A trained research assistant provided one-on-one training on the use of a loaned PDA preinstalled with Diabetes Pilot software.


RESULTS
Of 550 potential subjects invited for participation, only 98 (17.8%) called to schedule an orientation visit. However, 18 were never contacted when the recruitment goal was reached. Of the remaining 80 respondents, 43 (53.8%) met all study inclusion criteria. Participants' mean age was 55.2 years (SD = 10.1). The majority were female (62.8%) and white (62.8%), 83.7% had at least some college education, and most reported an income of $30,000 to $69,999. The mean baseline HbA1c was 10.0% (SD = 1.5). Major challenges of concern to the practicing family physician included few subjects agreeing to participate even though it was free, subjects who agreed to participate being generally different from those who decided not to participate, some PDAs not returned, and the relatively high cost of the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Attempts to incorporate PDA use in diabetes self-care may be significantly challenging, although feasible. We identified several challenges and suggest strategies to overcome them.
Forjuoh
Samuel N
SN
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Scott and White Santa Fe--Century Square, 1402 West Avenue H, Temple, TX 76504, USA. sforjuoh@swmail.sw.org
Reis
Michael D
MD
Couchman
Glen R
GR
Ory
Marcia G
MG
Mason
Saundra
S
Molonket-Lanning
Susan
S
D000328:Adult; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035061:Control Groups; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D005260:Female; D006123:Group Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D013781:Texas