Web based care management improved glucose control in patients with poorly controlled diabetes
Q Does web based care management improve glucose and blood pressure control, compared with usual care, in patients with poorly controlled diabetes?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
{concealed}.*
Blinding:
{unblinded}.*
Follow up period:
3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
Setting:
Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Patients:
104 English speaking patients >18 years of age (mean age 63 y, 99% men) who had poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c concentration ⩾9.0%), were willing to use a computer and glucose and blood pressure monitoring devices, had access to a telephone, and had a primary care provider associated with the hospital. 49% of patients were using insulin. 71% had not previously used the internet.
Intervention:
all patients attended a half day educational session on diabetes self management. 52 patients were allocated to usual care plus web based care management. They were given a notebook computer with free internet access and computer training …
