Mobile phone intervention to improve diabetes care in rural areas of Pakistan: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of mobile phone intervention on HbA1c in type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients living in rural areas of Pakistan.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place and duration of study: Department of Endocrinology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, from December 2013 to June 2014.

Methodology: A total of 440 patients in intervention and control groups were enrolled. All patients between 18 - 70 years of age, residing in rural areas of Pakistan, HbA1c ³ 8.0% and having personal functional mobile phone were included. The intervention group patients were called directly on mobile phone after every 15 days for a period of 4 months. They were asked about the self-monitoring blood glucose, intake of medications, physical activity, healthy eating and were physically examined after 4 months. However, the control group was examined initially and after 4 months physically in the clinic and there were no mobile phone contacts with these patients.

Results: Patients in intervention group showed improvement (p < 0.001) in following diet plan from 17.3% at baseline to 43.6% at endline, however, the control group showed insignificant increase (p=0.522) from 13.6% at baseline to 15.9% at endline. Intervention group (RR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.18 - 6.40) showed significant positive association with normalization of HbA1c levels. The relationship was adjusted for age, gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, education, hypertension, medication, BMI, diet, LDL levels and physical activity. Dietary restriction and low LDL levels also showed significant associations with reduced HbA1c levels on multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: Mobile phone technology in rural areas of Pakistan was helpful in lowering HbA1c levels in intervention group through direct communication with the diabetic patients. Lowering LDL and following diabetic diet plan can reduce HbA1c in these patients and help in preventing future complications.