title: Shared care combined with telecare improves glycemic control of diabetic patients in a rural underserved community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of shared care combined with telecare in type 2 diabetic patients in an underserved community in Asia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 95 patients with type 2 diabetes who had a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of >7% were recruited from six community health centers in remote areas in Changhua County, Taiwan. All patients were randomly divided into intervention (shared care combined with telecare) and usual-care groups and followed up for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The decrease in HbA1c level was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the usual-care group (0.7 ± 1.3% versus 0.1 ± 1.0%, p=0.03). There were no significant differences in lipid profiles and blood pressure changes between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shared care combined with telecare could significantly reduce HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control in underserved rural communities. Further studies should be conducted to clarify the target users and to develop cost-effective interventions.
authors: 1 Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital , Changhua, Taiwan .
authors: Jhao-Kun
authors: JK
authors: Liou
authors: Maw-Soan
authors: MS
authors: Soon
authors: Ching-Hui
authors: CH
authors: Chen
authors: Tzu-Fan
authors: TF
authors: Huang
authors: Yi-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Chen
authors: Yen-Po
authors: YP
authors: Yeh
authors: Chun-Ju
authors: CJ
authors: Chang
authors: Shou-Jen
authors: SJ
authors: Kuo
authors: Ming-Chia
authors: MC
authors: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012424:Rural Population; D013624:Taiwan; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin