Study Finds That Adding Telemonitoring To Support Diabetes Management Did Not Change Patient Outcomes

Adding telemonitoring to routine diabetes care did not significantly change patient outcomes, according to a new AHRQ-funded study. The study, “Effect of Home Telemonitoring on Glycemic and Blood Pressure Control in Primary Care Clinic Patients with Diabetes,” appeared online January 3 in Telemedicine and e-Health. Researchers compared 53 people who received routine care with 55 people who got routine care plus telemonitoring. After 12 weeks of care, hemoglobin A1c and blood pressure levels were not significantly different between the two groups. The study findings and abstract suggest that the addition of technology alone is unlikely to lead to improved outcomes, and that telemonitoring should be limited to patients whose care plans change significantly. The study said more research is needed to determine how primary care practices can effectively use telemonitoring to support patients’ abilities to manage diabetes.