A Ubiquitous Chronic Disease Care system using cellular phones and the internet

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 2009-06, Vol.26 (6), p.628-635
• Main Authors: Yoo, H. J., Park, M. S., Kim, T. N., Yang, S. J., Cho, G. J., Hwang, T. G., Baik, S. H., Choi, D. S., Park, G. H., Choi, K. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring - methods; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory - methods; Case-Control Studies; Cell Phone; chronic disease; Delivery of Health Care - methods; diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; hypertension; Internet; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; obesity; Overweight; Patient Compliance; Patient Education as Topic; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2009.02732.x

Aims  The rapidly increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is an important challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. To improve the quality and efficiency of chronic disease care, we investigated the effectiveness and applicability of the Ubiquitous Chronic Disease Care (UCDC) system using cellular phones and the internet for overweight patients with both Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Methods  We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial over 3 months that included 123 patients at a university hospital and a community public health centre. Results  After 12 weeks, there were significant improvements in HbA1c in the intervention group (7.6 ± 0.9% to 7.1 ± 0.8%, P