The impact of telehealth on self-management of patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review on interventional studies

• Main Authors: Agastiya, I Made Cahyadi, Kurianto, Endar, Akalili, Hanifati, Wicaksana, Anggi Lukman
• Format: Article PeerReviewed
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2022
• Subjects: Endocrinology
• Online Access: https://repository.ugm.ac.id/283351/1/219.pdf; https://repository.ugm.ac.id/283351/; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871402122000996?via%3Dihub
• Institution: Universitas Gadjah Mada

Background and aims: Self-management is critical to manage the glycemic and metabolic outcomes for patients with diabetes. Telehealth applications are recognized as a potential approach to promote selfmanagement of people with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of telehealth on self-management among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on several databases, including PubMed, EbscoHost Medline, and Science Direct, with the keywords: Diabetes Mellitus AND Mobile-phone based OR Telemedicine OR Telehealth OR Web-based OR Telenursing AND Self-management. Inclusion criteria were articles with type 2 diabetic respondents, published between 2015 and 2020, open-access articles, and had self-management as outcomes. Hence, qualitative, protocol, or review articles, commentaries, letters to editors, and case study/reports were excluded. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools and Cochrane collaboration's tools were used for assessing risk of bias. Results: The total of six studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, with five randomized control trials and one cross-sectional study. Telehealth applications were formed as an online or app-based platform with the key features of educational programs, text or voice messages, consultations and counseling, and active participation of the subjects. Besides improving the self-management outcomes, the telehealth also indicated improvements in positive behaviors, attitudes, and the intention of selfmanagement. Conclusion: The study concluded that implementation of telehealth provided positive self-management results among patients with type 2 diabetes. The users need to consider an intensive training, peer or family support, and provision of full support for the patients during the implementation of telehealth.