title: Telehealth for improved glycaemic control in patients with poorly controlled diabetes after acute hospitalization - a preliminary study in Singapore.
abstract: We evaluated a disease management and education programme delivered via telephone support (TS) to patients with poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c >7%). All eligible patients were invited to participate in the programme, which involved education on lifestyle modification and disease management delivered via three scheduled monthly calls by trained nurses. Patients who declined or could not be contacted acted as the controls (usual care, UC). A per protocol analysis was conducted using a mixed effect model for two subgroups with different baseline HbA1c levels (i.e. baseline HbA1c <8.0% and HbA1c ≥8.0%). A total of 2646 patients with diabetes were eligible for enrolment. Of these, 1391 participants had HbA1c measurements available. The study comprised 633 patients (46%) who completed the programme (TS), 598 (43%) who were not contactable or refused to participate at the first telephone call (UC) and 160 patients who dropped out. In the patients with HbA1c ≥8%, TS reduced the adjusted mean HbA1c by 0.38% (P = 0.022) but the reduction in diabetes-related admissions (4.2% lower adjusted mean admission rate) was not significant. In patients with HbA1c <8%, TS had no additional effect on glycaemic control or diabetes-related admission. Telephone support appeared effective in improving glycaemic control in patients with poor diabetes control.
authors: Health Services Research, Eastern Health Alliance, Singapore.
authors: Chow
authors: C
authors: Wai Leng
authors: Health Services Research, Eastern Health Alliance, Singapore.
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: Jundong
authors: Endocrinology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore wai.leng.chow@easternhealth.sg.
authors: Cho
authors: C
authors: Li Wei
authors: Endocrinology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Foo
authors: F
authors: Joo Pin
authors: Gastroenterology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Fock
authors: F
authors: Kwong Ming
authors: Endocrinology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012846:Singapore; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D013689:Telephone
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin