Find in Library

Background The knowledge-based management model has been widely used in chronic disease management recently. The online-to-offline (OTO) model, a common internet-based chronic disease management model integrating online and offline resources, has been used in disease prevention besides disease treatment, and proven to be effective in supporting chronic disease management. However, there are few studies on the application of OTO model in the management of older adults with diabetes in China. Objective To explore the influence of OTO model on glycemic control and self-management behaviors in older adults with type 2 diabetes in the community. Methods By use of convenient sampling, older adults with type 2 diabetes (n=110) who were transferred from a tertiary hospital to five community hospitals in Shenyang were selected from August to October 2020. They were randomly assigned in a 1∶1 ratio, to receive a 12-month usual community-based health management (control group) , or a 12-month OTO model-based health management (intervention group) . The intervention results were evaluated by fasting blood glucose (FBG) , 2-hour postprandial glucose (2 h-PBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at baseline, and 6 months and 12 months after intervention, and total score and dimension scores of the Chinese version of Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities (SDSCA-C) at baseline and 12 months after intervention. Results A total of 105 cases (53 in the intervention group and 52 in the control group) who completed the study were finally included. Two groups had was no significant differences in mean levels of baseline FBG, 2 h-PBG and HbA1c (P>0.05) . Significant interaction effects produced by the intervention method and time, and significant main effects brought by both intervention method and time on FBG, 2 h-PBG and HbA1c were observed (P<0.05) . FBG, 2 h-PBG and HbA1c levels in the intervention group decreased significantly either at 6 or 12 months after intervention (P<0.05) . But in the control group, only FBG and 2 h-PBG levels decreased significantly at 6 and 12 months after intervention (P<0.05) . The 12-month intervention lowered FBG, 2 h-PBG and HbA1c levels more significantly than 6-month intervention in the intervention group (P<0.05) . But in the control group, only 2 h-PBG level was lowered more significantly by 12-month intervention than 6-month intervention (P<0.05) . The intervention group had lower mean FBG, 2 h-PBG and HbA1c levels than the control group either at 6 or 12 months after intervention (P<0.05) . At baseline there were no differences between the two groups in total score and dimension scores of SDSCA-C (P>0.05) . After 12 months of intervention, the total score and dimension scores of SDSCA-C increased insignificantly in the control group (P>0.05) , but increased notably in the intervention group (P<0.05) . The intervention group had much higher total score and dimension scores of SDSCA-C than the control group after the intervention (P<0.05) . Conclusion The OTO model-based health management could contribute to improving glycemic control and self-management behaviors in older type 2 diabetics, which may benefit effective long-term management of diabetes.