The Effect of Telepharmacy on Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Srisangwan Hospital, Mae Hong Son Province

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is recognized as a significant public health problem worldwide. Advances in telecommunication technology have led to the development of telepharmacy services to monitor and resolve about drug-related problems in patients.

Objective: To study the effect of telepharmacy on clinical outcomes (HbA1C), knowledge of medication usage, medication adherence, and drug-related problems in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

Methods: The study was a quasi-experimental research conducted with 45 patients with type II diabetes mellitus at Srisangwan Hospital, Mae Hong Son Province. Data collection was undertaken from July to December 2023. The study instruments included a questionnaire comprising data related to personal information, a knowledge test on the use of medication, a medication adherence assessment form, and a record of medical history and drug-related problems. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and a paired sample t-test.

Results: The results before and after the delivery of telepharmacy revealed the following: The mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels were 9.44±1.95 and 8.64±1.56, indicating a statistically significant decrease (p-value<0.001). The mean scores for knowledge of medication (20 points) were 14.95±2.05 and 18.00±1.16, showing a statistically significant increase (p-value<0.001). The mean scores of medication adherence (8 points) were 6.43±1.56 and 6.70±1.27, demonstrating an increase, but with no significant difference. In terms of drug-related problems, the most common issues were related to the effectiveness of drug treatment (81.5%) and adverse drug reactions (16.7%). The causes of problems were as follows: 37.9% forgot to take medicine or stopped taking medicine or reduced the dosage on their own, 24.2% lacked dietary control, and 12.2% had inappropriate timing or dosing intervals.

Conclusion: The results of providing telepharmacy to patients with type II diabetes mellitus showed that patients' knowledge of medication usage increased, and drug-related problems were resolved, which resulted in a decrease in HbA1C levels. However, the HbA1C level did not reach the target level.