A telemonitoring intervention design for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: protocol for a feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Diabetes Management
• Telemedicine and Health Technology
• Clinical Feasibility Studies

Background:

• Optimal glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D) presents significant challenges.
• Telemedicine, particularly with telemonitoring, shows promise for supporting T2D management.
• The ideal telemonitoring design for T2D patients requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of two distinct telemonitoring designs for individuals with non-insulin-dependent T2D.
• To identify the optimal telemonitoring intervention for future large-scale randomized controlled trials.
• To gather insights into user and clinician experiences and acceptance of different telemonitoring approaches.

Main Methods:

• A 3-month randomized feasibility study involving 60 participants across four municipalities in North Denmark.
• Comparison of two telemonitoring interventions: one with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), sleep, and mental health monitoring; the second adding blood pressure and activity monitoring.
• Inclusion of qualitative interviews with participants and clinicians, alongside cost analysis of interventions.

Main Results:

• Feasibility data on two telemonitoring designs will be collected.
• Qualitative insights into participant and clinician experiences will be gathered.
• Cost differences between the two intervention designs will be investigated.

Conclusions:

• Telemonitoring holds potential for improving glycemic control in diabetes, but optimal intervention design is still under investigation.
• Results are expected to inform the design of future telemonitoring studies in T2D.
• A well-designed telemonitoring intervention is crucial for user acceptance and enhanced patient outcomes.