Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare waiting time, travel expense, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and point-of-care fasting blood glucose observations for 29 diabetic patients who used telemedicine at primary care units versus 68 patients who were managed conventionally in the associated community hospital in Ao Luk District, Krabi Province, southern Thailand. Data were compared using the Mann-Whitney test and Student t test. In telemedicine versus hospital patients, median waiting time was 5.0 versus 150.0 minutes, travel expense was US $0.3 versus $2.9, fasting blood glucose difference (before vs after visit treatment) was 44.0 versus 29.5 mg/dL, and HbA1c was 6.9% versus 8.4%, respectively. Rank analysis for waiting time, travel expense, fasting blood glucose difference, and HbA1c was significant (P < 0.001). Based on these results in the period of this study, diabetic patients who were managed by telemedicine at primary care units saved time and travel cost versus patients who were managed conventionally at the community hospital. Hemoglobin A1c results suggested better diabetes control in the telemedicine group. Monitoring diabetes control by using HbA 1c is becoming the standard of care in diabetic patients in Thailand, and hence, this measurement could be offered at the point of care in primary care units, whether they have telemedicine services.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 77-81 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Point of Care |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2009 |
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Keywords
- Ao luk district
- Blood glucose
- Community hospital
- Hemoglobin a
- Krabi province
- Ministry of public health
- Qualcomm
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nursing(all)
Cite this
Impact of point-of-care testing and telemedicine on diabetes management in primary care unit settings in rural Thailand. / Kulrattanamaneeporn, Shayanisawa; Wongboonsin, Kua; Kost, Gerald J.
In: Point of Care, Vol. 8, No. 2, 06.2009, p. 77-81.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of point-of-care testing and telemedicine on diabetes management in primary care unit settings in rural Thailand
AU - Kulrattanamaneeporn, Shayanisawa
AU - Wongboonsin, Kua
AU - Kost, Gerald J
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - The objective of this study was to compare waiting time, travel expense, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and point-of-care fasting blood glucose observations for 29 diabetic patients who used telemedicine at primary care units versus 68 patients who were managed conventionally in the associated community hospital in Ao Luk District, Krabi Province, southern Thailand. Data were compared using the Mann-Whitney test and Student t test. In telemedicine versus hospital patients, median waiting time was 5.0 versus 150.0 minutes, travel expense was US $0.3 versus $2.9, fasting blood glucose difference (before vs after visit treatment) was 44.0 versus 29.5 mg/dL, and HbA1c was 6.9% versus 8.4%, respectively. Rank analysis for waiting time, travel expense, fasting blood glucose difference, and HbA1c was significant (P < 0.001). Based on these results in the period of this study, diabetic patients who were managed by telemedicine at primary care units saved time and travel cost versus patients who were managed conventionally at the community hospital. Hemoglobin A1c results suggested better diabetes control in the telemedicine group. Monitoring diabetes control by using HbA 1c is becoming the standard of care in diabetic patients in Thailand, and hence, this measurement could be offered at the point of care in primary care units, whether they have telemedicine services.
AB - The objective of this study was to compare waiting time, travel expense, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and point-of-care fasting blood glucose observations for 29 diabetic patients who used telemedicine at primary care units versus 68 patients who were managed conventionally in the associated community hospital in Ao Luk District, Krabi Province, southern Thailand. Data were compared using the Mann-Whitney test and Student t test. In telemedicine versus hospital patients, median waiting time was 5.0 versus 150.0 minutes, travel expense was US $0.3 versus $2.9, fasting blood glucose difference (before vs after visit treatment) was 44.0 versus 29.5 mg/dL, and HbA1c was 6.9% versus 8.4%, respectively. Rank analysis for waiting time, travel expense, fasting blood glucose difference, and HbA1c was significant (P < 0.001). Based on these results in the period of this study, diabetic patients who were managed by telemedicine at primary care units saved time and travel cost versus patients who were managed conventionally at the community hospital. Hemoglobin A1c results suggested better diabetes control in the telemedicine group. Monitoring diabetes control by using HbA 1c is becoming the standard of care in diabetic patients in Thailand, and hence, this measurement could be offered at the point of care in primary care units, whether they have telemedicine services.
KW - Ao luk district
KW - Blood glucose
KW - Community hospital
KW - Hemoglobin a
KW - Krabi province
KW - Ministry of public health
KW - Qualcomm
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68549113122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=68549113122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/POC.0b013e3181a52c7c
DO - 10.1097/POC.0b013e3181a52c7c
M3 - Article
VL - 8
SP - 77
EP - 81
JO - Point of Care
JF - Point of Care
SN - 1533-029X
IS - 2
ER -