Social Impact Analysis of the Effects of a Telemedicine Intervention to Improve Diabetes Outcomes in an Ethnically Diverse, Medically Underserved Population: Findings From the IDEATel Study

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2012.300909
• Publication Date: 2013-03-14T22:14:46Z
• Authors: Steven Shea; Dhruva Kothari; Jeanne A. Teresi; Jian Kong; Joseph P. Eimicke; Rafael A. Lantigua; Walter Palmas; Ruth S. Weinstock
• Keywords: Ethnically diverse

We examined the social impact of telemedicine intervention effects in lower- and higher-socioeconomic status (SES) participants Informatics for Diabetes Education Telemedicine (IDEATel) study.We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing case management with usual care, blinded outcome evaluation, 1665 Medicare recipients diabetes, aged 55 years or older, residing federally designated medically underserved areas New York State. The primary endpoints were hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure levels.HbA1c was higher lower-income at baseline examination. However, we found no evidence that increased disparities. A significant moderator effect seen HbA1c (P = .004) .023), lowest-income group showing greater effects.Lower-SES IDEATel study benefited least as much higher-SES from nurse diabetes. Tailoring intensity based on clinical need may have led to improvements among those not goal diabetes control, also had lower income, thereby avoiding potential an innovative widen socioeconomic