JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a growing public health challenge globally, particularly in developing countries like Indonesia, where they contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. Rapid urbanization and lifestyle shifts have led to a high prevalence of NCDs and related risk factors, especially in suburban areas. Indonesia’s vast geography and limited access to specialized care hinder traditional healthcare delivery. Telemedicine—particularly teleconsultation—presents a promising, cost-effective solution to overcome access to care. However, there is a critical need for evidence-based, context-specific interventions to effectively address these challenges in Indonesia.

Objective:

This research seeks to assess the effectiveness of a teleconsultation intervention on key physiological risk factors of preventable non-communicable diseases among Indonesian adults residing in suburban areas. Specifically, it will assess changes in blood pressure (BP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), body weight (BW), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood total cholesterol (Chol), uric acid (UA), and peripheral blood oxygen (SpO2).

Methods:

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be carried out using an equal allocation ratio of 1:1 between study groups, involving two groups of Indonesian adults (intervention and control) aged 40-60 years who are at risk for or managing preventable NCDs. A total of 72 participants will be recruited from Kalijaya Village, Cikarang City, Bekasi Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. The intervention group will receive a 12-week teleconsultation package, developed using the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model. This package includes educational videos and posters on physical activity and diet (based on the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines), delivered via WhatsApp, along with synchronous teleconsultations three times per week. The control group will receive only the educational materials and posters via WhatsApp. Physiological outcomes (BP, FBS, BW, WHR, Chol, UA, SpO2) and self-reported measures of diet (Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire - short form), and digital health literacy (e-Health Literacy Scale) will be collected at baseline, post-intervention (week 12), and follow-up (week 24). Descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA will be used for data analysis.

Results:

Recruitment and baseline data collection were conducted in February 2025. The 12-week telehealth intervention began in April 2025 and is expected to conclude by July 2025. Post-intervention assessments are scheduled for July 2025, with follow-up assessments in October 2025. By March 2025, baseline assessments had been successfully completed by a total of 72 enrolled Indonesian adult participants. The results will establish the effectiveness of the teleconsultation intervention in improving clinical health indicators and health literacy among adults in Indonesia.

Conclusions:

This study protocol outlines a novel, evidence-based teleconsultation program aimed at addressing the rising burden of preventable NCDs among suburban Indonesian adults. The findings are expected to demonstrate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of this scalable intervention, offering valuable insights for integrating teleconsultation into routine primary care and nationwide public health strategies across Indonesia’s geographical diverse regions. Clinical Trial: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (iRCT) with registration number 82200; http://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/