Journal Article

Organisational models supported by technology for the management of diabetic disease and its complications in a diabetic clinic setting: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial targeting type 2 diabetes individuals with non-ideal glycaemic values (Telemechron study)

Inchiostro, Sandro, Marchesoni, Michele, Giovanazzi, Alexia, Malfatti, Giulia, Bincoletto, Giorgia, Bacchiega, Alessandro, Gentilini, Maria Adalgisa, Dall’Alda, Marlene, Gios, Lorenzo, Orrasch, Massimo, Zorzi, Andrea, Condini, Sara, Valent, Francesca, Eccher, Claudio, Conforti, Diego, Perini, Francesca, Mastellaro, Marina

2023

Overview

Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a non-communicable disease representing one of the most serious public health challenges of the twenty-first century. Its incidence continues to rise in both developed and developing countries, causing the death of 1.5 million people every year. The use of technology (e.g. smartphone application—App) in the health field has progressively increased as it has been proved to be effective in helping individuals manage their long-term diseases. Therefore, it has the potential to reduce the use of health service and its related costs. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of using a digital platform called “TreC Diabete” embedded into a novel organisational asset targeting poorly controlled T2DM individuals in the Autonomous Province of Trento (PAT), Italy. Methods This trial was designed as a multi-centre, open-label, randomised, superiority study with two parallel groups and a 1:1 allocation ratio. Individuals regularly attending outpatient diabetes clinics, providing informed consent, are randomised to be prescribed TreC Diabete platform as part of their personalised care plan. Healthcare staff members will remotely assess the data shared by the participants through the App by using a dedicated online medical dashboard. The primary end-point is the evaluation of the Hb1Ac level at 12-month post-randomisation. Data will be analysed on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis. Discussion This trial is the first conducted in the PAT area for the use of an App specifically designed for individuals with poorly controlled T2DM. If the effects of introducing this specific App within a new organisational asset are positive, the digital platform will represent a possible way for people diagnosed with T2DM to better manage their health in the future. Results will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed journals once the study is completed. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05629221. Registered on November 29, 2022, prior start of inclusion.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Analysis / Biomedicine / Chronic illnesses / Clinical outcomes / Communicable diseases / Developing countries / Diabetes / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diagnosis / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - therapy / Diabetes therapy / Disease / Ejection fraction / Equivalence Trials as Topic / Health aspects / Health care / Health Sciences / Heart failure / Humans / Intervention / Ischemia / Italy / Life style / Medical care, Cost of / Medical equipment / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Meta-analysis / mHealth / Mobile application / Mobile Applications / Models, Organizational / Multicenter Studies as Topic / Patients / Public health / Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Smart phones / Smartphone / Statistics for Life Sciences / Study Protocol / Systematic review / Technology / Technology application / Telemedicine / Type 2 diabetes / Type 2 diabetes mellitus