Bilgin Savran
Denizli Servergazi Public Hospital, Turkey
Title: The Effect of Tele-Nursing Practices on the Care of Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review
Biography
Biography: Bilgin Savran
Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Telemedicine is defined as the provision of healthcare services by healthcare professionals by using information and communication Technologies as well as distant and appropriate communication methods to improve health levels of individuals and communities and prevent diseases and accidents. Tele-nursing is the use of communication technologies in nursing to improve patient care.
This study is a systematic review of the effects of tele-nursing practices on the care of patients with diabetes.
Method: In this study, 33849 articles were reviewed. The study was conducted between January - February 2019 by checking the ”Wiley Online Library”,“ Pubmed ”,“ Google Scholar ”and “Tubitak Ulakbim” databases. The data of the study were screened using the key words such as telemedicine, diabetes telemedicine, diabetes telenursing, telenursing, tele presentation, telemedicine. A total of 15 articles complying with the inclusion criteria were reviewed and evaluated for comparison, limitations and conclusions.
Findings: According to the findings of the systematic review; a system including telephone, fax, letter, web-based applications or SMS usage was established and it was stated that diabetic patients could manage their own data for 24 hours. Furthermore, in the system, diabetic retinopathy screening, blood glucose level, blood pressure, pulse, HbA1c, body mass index, cholesterol, triglyceride, lipid values and antidiabetic drug use can be monitored and patients could receive consultancy from physicians, nurses and other health care workers. It was stated that tele-nursing technology used in diabetes aims to reduce major and minor complications of diabetes, to follow the developing complications and to provide care for them and effective service to rural individuals.
Conclusion: It is obvious that the studies conducted to evaluate the effect of tele-nursing practices on the care of diabetic patients are limited and more studies are needed.
Key Words: Telemedicine, diabetes, telenursing, telehealth