A Randomized Comparison of Online- and Telephone-Based Care Management with Internet Training Alone in Adult Patients with Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Aims: Care management may improve the quality of diabetes care by enhancing contact between high-risk patients and their providers. This prospective, longitudinal, randomized trial sought to investigate whether telephone or online care management improves diabetes-related outcomes over time compared with usual care supplemented with Internet access and training. Subjects and Methods: One hundred fifty-one adult subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and an elevated hemoglobin A1c (A1c) level (≥8.5%) were randomly assigned to online care management (n=51), telephone-based care management (n=51), or Web training (n=49) groups. Online and telephone participants interacted with a care manager through a diabetes education and care management Web site and by telephone, respectively. The Web training group was provided with online diabetes self-management resources but no care management support. The primary outcome measure was A1c measured every 3 months for a year. Results: A1c declined significantly ...