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E-Support: The Missing Link
Nearly 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, a disease which limits the body’s ability to convert food into energy, and results in abnormally high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is treatable, but must be carefully controlled by prescription drugs in combination with close monitoring and a healthier lifestyle. Early symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes, such as fatigue, are often ignored by the individual, but complications of chronic, uncontrolled diabetes can be serious, including vision loss, kidney failure, stroke or limb loss.
The general population, as a whole, is becoming more computer savvy. Health information technology can provide an electronic link between patients, peers and health care providers.
Self-management is a critical component of diabetes care. This means that individuals must take responsibility for making healthy choices in their day-to-day lives. A healthy diet, exercise and self-monitoring of blood sugar levels, often require behavioral changes that can be difficult to maintain. Support for individuals attempting self-management can be found in educational materials, peer group discussions, and advice from health care professionals. Unfortunately, busy schedules and workflow issues in today’s health care systems often create a communication gap between self-management activities and the primary care physician.
Dr. Cheryl Shigaki, an Assistant Professor of Health Psychology in the MU School of Health Professions, believes that health information technology may provide the missing link between patient and physician. The general population is becoming more computer savvy and many people, including older adults, regularly use the internet and e-mail on a daily basis. Likewise, electronic information systems are on the rise in primary health care settings.
“Internet-based self-management support is a logical next step in patient-centered care,” Shigaki said. She plans to test an online self-management and peer support program for individuals with diabetes and determine if greater benefits of the program are achieved when the primary care provider receives electronic information about the patient’s progress and concerns.
Participants will use the online program to learn about diabetes, set goals and interact with other individuals in the online "group" who are striving to self-manage their diabetes. The primary care physicians for a subgroup of the participants will be electronically informed of the patient’s progress and prompted to engage in a dialogue with the patient at an upcoming appointment.
The objective of the study is to determine if health information technology for self management of diabetes, in combination with primary care physician involvement, can create a more dynamic patient-physician relationship, ultimately resulting in better outcomes such as weight loss, control of blood sugar and patient satisfaction.
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Dr. Cheryl Shigaki, Assistant Professor of Health Psychology
A blood glucose monitor can be used in the home or clinic to quickly and easily determine blood sugar levels. Individuals can check their own blood glucose 2 or more times a day to record and follow the effectiveness of their medication, diet and exercise programs.
Page last updated on: August 25, 2009
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