Abstract
BackgroundIn 2017, 80% of 425 million adults with diabetes worldwide were living in low and middle-income countries. Diabetes affected 6.9 million adults in Bangladesh and accounted for 3% of the country’s total mortality. Proper management of diabetes is the key to positive health outcomes. This study investigated how mobile phone-based health intervention could increase patient adherence and thereby improve the disease outcomes for diabetes type 2 in Bangladesh.MethodsA mobile phone-based health project (including mobile phone reminders and 24/7 call center) was implemented in Dhaka District, Bangladesh from January to December 2014. A randomized control trial was carried out, recruiting randomly in intervention and control groups among the patients receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes at the Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 320 patients from both groups at baseline and 273 at endline were interviewed.ResultsA significant improvement in patient adherence to diet, physical exercise, the cessation of use of tobacco and betel nut, and blood glycaemic control was found in the intervention group, whereas no such significant improvement was found in the control group. Cost and other co-morbidities were found to be the main reasons for non-adherence.ConclusionA mobile-health intervention should be considered as an additional option for non-communicable disease programs.
Highlights
In 2017, 80% of 425 million adults with diabetes worldwide were living in low and middle-income countries
The study showed a positive impact of the m-Health intervention on patientsadherence for diet, physical exercise, cessation of tobacco and betel nut, and control of blood glucose levels
Financial constraints were found to be the main reason for omitting medications and hospital visits and were linked to uncontrolled blood glucose level
Summary
In 2017, 80% of 425 million adults with diabetes worldwide were living in low and middle-income countries. In 2017, 425 million adults (20–79) worldwide had diabetes, 80% of them were living in LMICs. The number is projected to increase up to 629 million by 2045 [2]. Bangladesh had 6.9 million adults living with diabetes; the number is projected to increase up to 13.7 million by 2045 [2, 3]. Rapid urban growth (3.5% annually) has led to increased sedentary lifestyles, higher calorie consumption, and more stressful life conditions All these elements combined with a growing elderly population and lack of awareness about healthy lifestyles contributed to the increased diabetes prevalence [9, 10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
