USING TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO MANAGE CHILDREN WITH DIABETES -THE COMPUTER-LINKED OUTPATIENT-CLINIC (CLOG) STUDY

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using a tele communication system to assist in the outpatient management of pediatr ic patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Metabolic control patient s' psychosocial status, family functioning, perceived quality of life, patterns of parental/child responsibility for daily diabetes maintena nce, and nursing time-on-task were evaluated. One hundred six pediatri c patients (mean age = 13.3 years) were randomly assigned to an experi mental or control outpatient clinic for 1 year Experimental subjects t ransmitted self-monitoring blood glucose data by modem to the hospital every 2 weeks. Transmitted data were reviewed by nurse practitioners who telephoned subjects to discuss regimen adjustments. Control subjec ts received standard care with regimen adjustments made by physicians. There were no significant between-group differences for metabolic con trol, rates of hospitalization or emergency-room visits, psychological status, general family functioning, quality of life, or parent-child responsibility. A significant decrease was noted in nursing time-on-ta sk for experimental subjects.