Mobile healthcare based on smartphone apps is becoming a tool to improve self-care management of diabetics. but research is minimal on the achievement of diabetes education in Korea. We investigated the effect of intensive education by using mobile apps, logbook and booklet.
It was conducted on type 2 diabetics who visited five general hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province from April 20, 2016 to April 6, 2017. After randomly assigning the subjects to App group(27), Logbook group(32) and General group(29), All groups conducted pattern management education using booklet. The App group provided real-time education through mobile app. for six months. Logbook group provided education at every hospital visit, using diabetic logbook. General group provided only initial education. HbA1c, self-care behaviors, and quality of life was investigated before and after education to obtain the differences within a group and between groups
The study involved 88 subjects (51M, 37F) with an average age of 55.8 years and an average duration of diabetes of 7.6 years.There were no differences in the self-care management behaviors among the three groups in the changes before and after 24 weeks, but the HbA1c was significantly decreased in the App group compared to the Logbook group and the General group(F = 5.997, p = .004).The quality of life of subjects improved in all three groups after 24 weeks, but there was no significant difference between the three groups.
In this study, Diabetes education is effective for blood sugar improvement. Mobile apps are effective in improving blood sugar management.