Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
La Source, School of Nursing Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Front Public Health. 2023 Aug 16;11:1240879. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1240879. eCollection 2023.
Digital health technology can be useful to improve the health of patients with diabetes and to support patient-centered care and self-management. In this cross-sectional study, we described the eHealth profile of patients with diabetes, based on their use of digital health technology, and its association with sociodemographic characteristics.
We used data from the "Qualité Diabète Valais" cohort study, conducted in one region of Switzerland (Canton Valais) since 2019. Participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and on the use of digital health technology. We defined eHealth profiles based on three features, i.e., ownership or use of (1) internet-connected devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer), (2) mHealth applications, and (3) connected health tools (activity sensor, smart weight scale, or connected blood glucose meter). We assessed the association between sociodemographic characteristics and participants' eHealth profiles using stratified analyses and logistic regression models.
Some 398 participants (38% women) with a mean age of 65 years (min: 25, max: 92) were included. The vast majority (94%) were Swiss citizens or bi-national and 68% were economically inactive; 14% had a primary level education, 51% a secondary level, and 32% a tertiary level. Some 75% of participants had type 2 diabetes. Some 90% of the participants owned internet-connected devices, 43% used mHealth applications, and 44% owned a connected health tool. Older age and a lower educational level were associated with lower odds of all features of the eHealth profile. To a lesser extent, having type 2 diabetes or not being a Swiss citizen were also associated with a lower use of digital health technology. There was no association with sex.
While most participants owned internet-connected devices, only about half of them used mHealth applications or owned connected health tools. Older participants and those with a lower educational level were less likely to use digital health technology. eHealth implementation strategies need to consider these sociodemographic patterns among patients with diabetes.
数字健康技术可用于改善糖尿病患者的健康状况，并支持以患者为中心的护理和自我管理。在这项横断面研究中，我们根据数字健康技术的使用情况描述了糖尿病患者的电子健康状况，并分析了其与社会人口统计学特征的关联。
我们使用了自 2019 年以来在瑞士瓦莱州（Canton Valais）开展的“糖尿病质量瓦莱州”队列研究的数据。1 型或 2 型糖尿病患者完成了关于社会人口统计学特征和数字健康技术使用情况的问卷。我们根据三个特征定义了电子健康状况，即（1）拥有或使用互联网连接设备（智能手机、平板电脑或计算机），（2）移动健康应用程序，（3）连接健康工具（活动传感器、智能体重秤或连接血糖仪）。我们使用分层分析和逻辑回归模型评估了社会人口统计学特征与参与者电子健康状况之间的关联。
共纳入 398 名参与者（38%为女性），平均年龄为 65 岁（最小：25 岁，最大：92 岁）。绝大多数（94%）为瑞士公民或双重国籍，68%为非经济活动人口；14%的参与者接受过小学教育，51%的参与者接受过中学教育，32%的参与者接受过高等教育。约 75%的参与者患有 2 型糖尿病。约 90%的参与者拥有互联网连接设备，43%的参与者使用移动健康应用程序，44%的参与者拥有连接健康工具。年龄较大和教育程度较低与电子健康状况的所有特征的较低几率相关。在较小程度上，患有 2 型糖尿病或不是瑞士公民也与数字健康技术的使用较低相关。性别与数字健康技术的使用无关。
虽然大多数参与者拥有互联网连接设备，但只有约一半的参与者使用移动健康应用程序或拥有连接健康工具。年龄较大的参与者和教育程度较低的参与者使用数字健康技术的可能性较低。电子健康技术实施策略需要考虑到糖尿病患者的这些社会人口统计学模式。
