Tim Kenealy|Matthew Parsons|Antony Paul Bock Rouse|Robert N. Doughty|Nicolette Sheridan|Jennifer K. Harré Hindmarsh|Sarah Masson|Harry Rea
Telecare for Diabetes, CHF or COPD: Effect on Quality of Life, Hospital Use and Costs. A Randomised Controlled Trial and Qualitative Evaluation
University of Auckland|Waikato District Health Board|University of Auckland|University of Auckland|Auckland City Hospital|University of Auckland|University of Auckland|University of Auckland|University of Auckland
objectives assess effect telecare health related quality life selfcare hospital use costs experiences patients informal carers health care professionals methods patients randomly assigned either usual care additionally entering data commerciallyavailable electronic device uploaded data day nurseled monitoring station patients congestive heart failure site chronic obstructive pulmonary disease site b longterm condition mostly diabetes site c site c contributed intervention patients considered usual care option unethical study took place new zealand september 2010 february 2012 lasted 3 6 months patient primary outcome healthrelated quality life sf36 data experiences collected individual group interviews questionnaire results 171 patients 98 intervention 73 control quality life selfefficacy diseasespecific measures change significantly anxiety depression decreased significantly intervention hospital admissions days hospital emergency department visits outpatient visits costs differ significantly groups patients sites universally positive many felt safer caredfor said family learned managing condition staff could see potential benefits telecare initial technical problems many staff felt telecare enabled effectively monitor patients conclusions strongly positive patient staff experiences attitudes complement contrast small nonsignificant quantitative changes telecare led patients families taking active role selfmanagement likely subgroups patients benefitted ways measured visible within quantitative data especially feelings safety caredfor trial registration australian new zealand clinical trials registry actrn12610000269033