Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- Razieh Vahab 1
- Firoozeh Zare-Farashbandi 2
- Ali Cachuei 3
- Mohammad Reza Soleymani 4
- Akbar Hassanzadeh 5
1 MSc, Medical Librarianship and Information, Department of Medical Librarianship and Information, School of Medical Management and Information, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Medical Librarianship and Information, Research Center for Information Technology in Health Affairs, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 Assistant Professor, Medical Librarianship and Information, Research Center for Information Technology in Health Affairs, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5 Lecturer, Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Accessing credible information is essential in the area of healthcare. Information therapy is a method that helps patients to access credible and relevant information regarding their conditions. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of distant information therapy on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels of patients with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Methods: The current applied and semi-empirical study was conducted on 31 patients with type 2 diabetes and 35 patients with pre-diabetes referring to Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Iran, during winter 2015. The subjects were chosen through simple random sampling. The subjects’ HbA1C was measured at the beginning of the study and after the information therapy intervention. The gathered data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS software. Results: The results showed no meaningful difference in the HbA1C levels in the type 2 diabetic or pre-diabetic groups before and after the intervention. There was also no significant difference between mean HbA1C levels of the two groups after the intervention. Conclusion: The findings revealed that distant information therapy had no significant effects on HbA1C levels of patients in either group. As a result, in order to carry out information therapy, it may be better to use health software and social networks rather than posted information packages and SMS massages. It is also necessary to give patients with pre-diabetes a better understanding of their condition and the side effects of diabetes so that they follow instructions and guidelines to control their disease more seriously.
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