mHealth; eHealth; global health; primary care; diabetes
Abstract :
[en] Introduction: The diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence in Rwanda is estimated at 3.5%. In 2013, there were only one medical doctor and one nurse per 15,000 and 1,200 people respectively in Rwanda. A new programme employing frontline workers (Home-Based Community Practitioners (HBCPs)) is currently piloted, aiming at following-up patients with non-communicable diseases in their communities.
We hypothesise that the management of DM at community level will improve following the introduction of a HBCP programme with regular monthly assessments and disease management, coupled with integration of a mobile health (mHealth) application with patient diaries, notifications and educational material.
Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the efficacy of such an integrated programme in Rwanda.
Methods: The study is designed as a one-year, open-label cluster trial of two interventions (arm1: HBCP programme, arm2: HBCP programme + mHealth application) and usual care (control). The primary outcomes will be changes in glycated haemoglobin levels and health-related quality of life. Mortality, complications, health literacy, mental well-being and treatment adherence will be assessed as secondary outcomes. Measurements will be conducted at baseline, 6 and 12 months. An intention-to-treat approach will be used to evaluate outcomes. Before trial onset, ethical approval will be sought in Rwanda, Luxembourg and Denmark, and a cross-cultural adaptation of questionnaires and a pilot will be carried out.
Relevance: The project will provide evidence on the efficacy of innovative approaches for integrated management of DM and may spur the development of similar solutions for other chronic diseases in low-resource settings.
Disciplines :
Human health sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition General & internal medicine Public health, health care sciences & services
Author, co-author :
Uwizihiwe, Jean Paul
Lygidakis, Charilaos ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
Vögele, Claus ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
Condo, Jeanine
D'Ambrosio, Conchita ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
Kallestrup, Per
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Community- and mHealth-based integrated management of diabetes in primary healthcare in Rwanda (D²Rwanda): The study protocol
Publication date :
29 June 2017
Event name :
22nd WONCA Europe Conference
Event organizer :
WONCA Europe
Event place :
Prague, Czechia
Event date :
from 28-06-2017 to 01-07-2017
Audience :
International
Name of the research project :
The D²Rwanda Study
Funders :
Karen Elise Jensens Fond, Aarhus University, University of Luxembourg