Comparative Effectiveness of Telemedicine and Conventional Care for Diabetic patients
Keywords:
Telemedicine , Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus , Glycemic control , HbA1C , Primary CareAbstract
The rising incidence of type 2 diabetes has necessitated the development of digital health interventions as a key mechanism for enhancing healthcare accessibility. This quasi-experimental study aimed to compare the effectiveness of telemedicine-based care versus conventional care among 62 patients with type 2 diabetes in the primary care network of Phetchabun Hospital. Participants were divided into an experimental group and a control group (n = 31 per group) and followed for 24 weeks. Data were analyzed using Repeated Measures ANOVA and ANCOVA. The results demonstrated that both groups achieved statistically significant reductions in HbA1c and capillary blood glucose (DTX) from baseline (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The telemedicine group showed a mean HbA1c reduction of 0.56%. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding HbA1c and DTX levels at week 24 (p = 0.210 and p = 0.558). In conclusion, telemedicine is a non-inferior alternative to traditional care, effectively reducing travel barriers and closing gaps in primary care settings. Future studies should focus on cost-effectiveness and extended follow-up to evaluate long-term behavioral sustainability.
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