Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study)
BackgroundThe use of technologies in the health field has progressively increased. Within the context of a broader project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (TELEMECHRON study), a randomised controlled trial (RCT) has been conducted in the Autonomous Province of Trento on type 2 diabetes indi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcdhc.2025.1589548/full |
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| author | Alexia Giovanazzi Lorenzo Gios Maria Adalgisa Gentilini Marina Mastellaro Patrizia Bartolotta Lucrezia Nicolussi Giacomaz Claudio Eccher Sandro Inchiostro |
| author_facet | Alexia Giovanazzi Lorenzo Gios Maria Adalgisa Gentilini Marina Mastellaro Patrizia Bartolotta Lucrezia Nicolussi Giacomaz Claudio Eccher Sandro Inchiostro |
| author_sort | Alexia Giovanazzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe use of technologies in the health field has progressively increased. Within the context of a broader project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (TELEMECHRON study), a randomised controlled trial (RCT) has been conducted in the Autonomous Province of Trento on type 2 diabetes individuals with an untargeted glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level.MethodsThe overall aim was to evaluate the impact of the “TreC Diabete” digital platform, including a smartphone application (app) and a dashboard. This open-label, parallel-group, 1:1 allocation ratio RCT in which the intervention group used the app for data entry, symptoms questionnaire, communication with healthcare staff and medication recording, while the control group received standard care. The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c levels at 12 months between groups.ResultsBetween December 2022 and August 2023, 103 participants were enrolled (51 intervention; 52 control), with a median age of 67 years old, time from diabetes diagnosis to enrolment 13 years, and 72% male. At 12 months, the median change in HbA1c levels did not differ significantly between groups. Regarding app usage, data entries decreased significantly from the first quarter to the second quarter but subsequently stabilised (p = 0.001). System usability (from 42 responders in the intervention group) had a median score of 95 (range: 0–100), indicating a high level of satisfaction with the platform.DiscussionThe study faced several challenges, including platform technical issues, service interruption, data entry anomalies and difficulties in participant recruitment. Study generalisability may be limited by the sample’s demographics, as the trial predominantly included younger male individuals with a specific HbA1c level.ConclusionThe study highlighted key factors for future implementations, including understanding technology benefits, addressing adoption barriers, and providing education and support to both patients and healthcare providers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-91a383bb3ab34a67b5e6afd21a53f769 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-6616 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj-art-91a383bb3ab34a67b5e6afd21a53f7692025-08-20T02:23:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare2673-66162025-06-01610.3389/fcdhc.2025.15895481589548Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study)Alexia Giovanazzi0Lorenzo Gios1Maria Adalgisa Gentilini2Marina Mastellaro3Patrizia Bartolotta4Lucrezia Nicolussi Giacomaz5Claudio Eccher6Sandro Inchiostro7Servizio Governance Clinica, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari della Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Trento, ItalyTrentinoSalute4.0, Competence Center for Digital Health, Trento, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, ItalyUnità Operativa epidemiologica clinica e valutativa, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari della Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Trento, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, ItalyServizio Governance Clinica, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari della Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Trento, ItalyUnità Operativa epidemiologica clinica e valutativa, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari della Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Trento, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, ItalyDigital Health Innovation Lab Unit, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, ItalyDigital Health Innovation Lab Unit, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, ItalyDipartimento medico, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari della Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Trento, ItalyBackgroundThe use of technologies in the health field has progressively increased. Within the context of a broader project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (TELEMECHRON study), a randomised controlled trial (RCT) has been conducted in the Autonomous Province of Trento on type 2 diabetes individuals with an untargeted glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level.MethodsThe overall aim was to evaluate the impact of the “TreC Diabete” digital platform, including a smartphone application (app) and a dashboard. This open-label, parallel-group, 1:1 allocation ratio RCT in which the intervention group used the app for data entry, symptoms questionnaire, communication with healthcare staff and medication recording, while the control group received standard care. The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c levels at 12 months between groups.ResultsBetween December 2022 and August 2023, 103 participants were enrolled (51 intervention; 52 control), with a median age of 67 years old, time from diabetes diagnosis to enrolment 13 years, and 72% male. At 12 months, the median change in HbA1c levels did not differ significantly between groups. Regarding app usage, data entries decreased significantly from the first quarter to the second quarter but subsequently stabilised (p = 0.001). System usability (from 42 responders in the intervention group) had a median score of 95 (range: 0–100), indicating a high level of satisfaction with the platform.DiscussionThe study faced several challenges, including platform technical issues, service interruption, data entry anomalies and difficulties in participant recruitment. Study generalisability may be limited by the sample’s demographics, as the trial predominantly included younger male individuals with a specific HbA1c level.ConclusionThe study highlighted key factors for future implementations, including understanding technology benefits, addressing adoption barriers, and providing education and support to both patients and healthcare providers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcdhc.2025.1589548/fulltype 2 diabetesmetabolic controlrandomised controlled trialmHealthtelemedicinedigital health |
| spellingShingle | Alexia Giovanazzi Lorenzo Gios Maria Adalgisa Gentilini Marina Mastellaro Patrizia Bartolotta Lucrezia Nicolussi Giacomaz Claudio Eccher Sandro Inchiostro Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study) Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare type 2 diabetes metabolic control randomised controlled trial mHealth telemedicine digital health |
| title | Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study) |
| title_full | Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study) |
| title_fullStr | Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study) |
| title_short | Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study) |
| title_sort | impact of digital health on type 2 diabetes management a randomised controlled trial of the trec diabete platform telemechron study |
| topic | type 2 diabetes metabolic control randomised controlled trial mHealth telemedicine digital health |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcdhc.2025.1589548/full |
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