Development of a telenursing system for patients with chronic conditions

Abstract

We have evaluated the feasibility of a telenursing system for patients with a chronic condition who are in receipt of home care services. The Internet-based system allows patients (equipped with a laptop computer), nurses and physicians to access information from a central database through a wireless network (128 kbit/s). Email and video-mail messages as well as vital signs data can be sent daily by the patient to a server at a regional health-care centre, and can be accessed by a nurse or physician, who can then decide on appropriate care. The system was tested by a male patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus, to see whether it would enhance his own management of his condition. During a 73-day baseline introductory period, no specific educational material was provided on the system Website about the management of diabetes (during this time the technical operation of the system was tested). During a second, 71-day period, educational material was provided. The telenursing system helped the patient to manage his condition, as shown by significant improvements in his levels of blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) and in his blood pressure. Our findings suggest that the system is feasible.