AJMC: Patient and Supporter Factors Affecting Engagement with Diabetes Telehealth
Telehealth programs are an increasingly popular approach to facilitate diabetes care by enhancing remote monitoring, communication, and collaboration among patients, caregivers, and health care providers. A study of 123 adults with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, enrolled with a family supporter, received automated interactive voice response (IVR) and coach-provided visit preparation calls over 12 months. Automated IVR calls were completed more often when urgent issues were identified to patients’ providers, but less often if patients had high blood press or depression. In conclusion, visit preparation call content should be tailored to patient education level, and family help with medications may identify patients needing additional support to engage with telehealth.