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Determinants of blood glucose self-monitoring and results-sharing among diabetic adults: the urgent need for digital empowerment
ABSTRACT
Background:
The last two decades have seen a burgeoning rise in the prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Reaching epidemic proportions, women and adolescents in urban areas are the most affected. Self-management programs and intervention policies are being prioritized for diabetes control.
Objective:
To determine the determinants of and investigate the types of methods used for sharing the results of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) among insulin users.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 203 patients attending primary care clinics of a tertiary care center. The questionnaire included demographic details and information related to measuring, recording, and sharing SMBG results. Descriptive and inferential statistics were reported.
Results:
The prevalence of monitoring was 95% (193/203; 95%), recording was 76%(147/193; 76.2%) and sharing 79%(117/147; 79.6%).. Of these, only 72% performed daily monitoring. But the overall prevalence of sharing SMBG results in the entire sample was 57.6% only (117/203;57.6%). Almost 55.6% used paper-based materials like notebooks and paper for recording, while the rest used digital devices like laptops and smartphones. A shift towards the use of digital devices and smart applications was observed in the younger population. The digitally recorded blood glucose measurements were being shared thrice more often than recordings made in paper or notebook (OR=2.8; P =.01) Older patients (OR= 2.3; P = .02), lesser formal education, being married (OR=4.2; P= <.001), smaller family size (OR= 2.6; P =.01), having type 2 diabetes ( OR=4.1; P= <.002), and presence of any comorbid condition (OR=2.6; P= .01) were associated with higher Odds of using paper-based methods for sharing.
Conclusions:
Diabetes self-management programs can incorporate the use of digital technology in training sessions. The older diabetic individuals may be the center of focus for such training programs and reinforce improved monitoring and sharing practices using smart devices. Digital literacy and its applications in healthcare may enhance SMBG practices resulting in better diabetes control.
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