The study of Fasting Blood Sugar and Hemoglobin A1c level in type 2 Diabetic patients between home delivery of medication service and health promotion center in Lampang hospital
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in the delivery of care to patients with diabetes. Home delivery of medication service has emerged as a potential solution to improve access to care and reduce the risk of disease transmission. However, there is limited research on the effects on blood sugar levels between receiving medication by home delivery service and at a clinic.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the blood sugar levels of patients with type 2 diabetes between the group that received medication by home delivery of medical service and the group that received medication at the outpatient clinic of the Health Promotion Center, Lampang Hospital.
METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study. The study sample consisted of two groups, each with 434 participants: diabetic patients receiving medications by postal delivery and patients receiving medications at health promotion center in Lampang Hospital group. Data were collected from the medical records of patients with type 2 diabetes from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, and Multivariable Gaussian regression.
RESULTS: There were a total of 868 type 2 diabetes patients. The majority of participants were female (63.94%, n=555) and over 60 years of age (69.01%, n=599). Multivariable Gaussian regression analysis revealed that the mean post-follow-up FBS level in the postal medication group was 1.25 mg/dl lower than health promotion center group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.562). Similarly, the mean post-follow-up HbA1c level in the postal medication group was 0.12 mg% higher than health promotion center group, but this difference was also not statistically significant (P=0.063).
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The levels of FBS and HbA1c between receiving medication using home delivery service and receiving at a clinic were not statistically significantly different. Postal medication delivery may be a viable alternative to traditional clinic visits for receiving medication among patients with type 2 diabetes.
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