title: Design of the e-Vita diabetes mellitus study: effects and use of an interactive online care platform in patients with type 2 diabetes (e-VitaDM-1/ZODIAC-40).
abstract: Trial registration: NCT01570140.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Due to ongoing rise in need for care for people with chronic diseases and lagging increase in number of care providers, alternative forms of care provision and self-management support are needed. Empowering patients through an online care platform could help to improve patients' self-management and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Access to laboratory results and educational modules on diabetes will be offered through a platform for subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated in primary care. Differences in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between subjects expressing interest vs. disinterest to use the platform will be explored. Platform usage will be tracked and compared. Patient satisfaction and quality of life will be measured by validated questionnaires and economic analyses will be performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is designed to assess the feasibility of use of an online platform in routine primary healthcare for subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Netherlands, and to study effects of use of the platform on treatment satisfaction, quality of life and clinical parameters. Although providing access to a online platform is not a novel intervention, usage and effects have not yet been studied in this patient population.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Centre, Isala, Zwolle, The Netherlands. y.roelofsen@isala.nl.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roelofsen
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Floor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sieverink
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Vugt
authors.forename: Kornelis Jj
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: van Hateren
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Snoek
authors.forename: Maartje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: Rijk Ob
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Gans
authors.forename: Klaas H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Groenier
authors.forename: Julia Ewc
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: van Gemert-Pijnen
authors.forename: Nanne
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kleefstra
authors.forename: Henk Jg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bilo