"Our findings suggest that text messaging and Web portals may be especially effective mechanisms for linking providers to patients with diabetes," writes Natasha Wiebe, University of Alberta, Edmonton, with coauthors. "The use of SMS [short message service] text messaging may be feasible to communicate and motivate patients, which could result in positive outcomes."
The large study was conducted to review recent evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine - the use of telecommunications to deliver health services - which is a rapidly growing field. It included 111 randomized controlled trials conducted in the United States, Korea, Canada, Australia and other countries.
The researchers found that the use of telephones, smartphones, texting (SMS) and interactive websites (Web portals), which allowed two-way communication between patients and health care providers about blood glucose levels and interventions such as exercise and medication adjustments, had a positive effect on blood sugar levels.
"Our systematic review showed that telemedicine may be a useful supplement to usual clinical care to control HbA1C [glycated hemoglobin], at least in the short term. Telemedicine interventions appeared to be most effective when they use a more interactive format, such as a Web portal or text messaging, to help patients with self-management," writes senior author Marcello Tonelli, University of Calgary.
Faruque LI, Wiebe N, Ehteshami-Afshar A, Liu Y, Dianati-Maleki N, Hemmelgarn BR, Manns BJ, Tonelli M; Alberta Kidney Disease Network.
Effect of telemedicine on glycated hemoglobin in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.
CMAJ. 2016 Oct 31. pii: cmaj.150885, DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.150885