ECE2024 Eposter Presentations Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolism and Nutrition (383 abstracts)
Hedi Chaker Hospital, Endocrinology and diabetology department, Sfax, Tunisia
Background: Interest health applications and networks for self-management of diabetes are growing. Furthermore, the potential influence of social media on health information spread is remarkable.
Aim: This study aims to determine the role of the new telecommunication technology in the dissemination of therapeutic education in our population.
Methods: Our study is an descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study which took place during the period from November 2022 to January 2023 among 61 T2DM patients hospitalized in the endocrinology department in Sfax as well as patients followed at the basic health centre.
Results: The involvement of new telecommunication technologies in the choice of therapeutic educations interface occupied the second priority in the different educational objectives, but in different proportions. Moreover, 24 patients (39.3%) preferred telephone applications for disseminating instructions on dietary hygiene measures. The role of the media was also in demand, especially for general information (26.2%), diet (24.6%) and how to use current treatment (21.3%). Internet platforms dedicated to diabetic patients were among the choices of 10 patients (16.4%) in the area of preventing complications of the disease. Social networks were also integrated into the development for health care resources, especially to prevent complications (23%). The correlation between patients objective assessment of their knowledge and their possession of telecommunication resources (smart phones, computers…) was significant (0.316, P=0.006). The statistical study showed a positive correlation between the use of new technologies and patients level of knowledge. This relationship was significant for glucometer use (P=0.002).
Conclusion: In our study, we recognized that whatever the integration of new telecommunication technologies that patients needed, the medical and paramedical staff were always involved in the dissemination of therapeutic education.