A comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care: A real-world feasibility test

Background Hypertension and diabetes are typically managed in primary care settings, where continuous and tailored care based on continuity in daily life is essential to improve health outcomes. Objective To address the shortage of human and material resources in primary care and to enhance health o...

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Main Authors: Ye Seul Bae, Seoyeon Park, Changbo Noh, Boram Choi, Seung Ah Yi, So Eun Kim, Yoon Ji Kim, Jae-Heon Kang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251344375
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author Ye Seul Bae
Seoyeon Park
Changbo Noh
Boram Choi
Seung Ah Yi
So Eun Kim
Yoon Ji Kim
Jae-Heon Kang
author_facet Ye Seul Bae
Seoyeon Park
Changbo Noh
Boram Choi
Seung Ah Yi
So Eun Kim
Yoon Ji Kim
Jae-Heon Kang
author_sort Ye Seul Bae
collection DOAJ
description Background Hypertension and diabetes are typically managed in primary care settings, where continuous and tailored care based on continuity in daily life is essential to improve health outcomes. Objective To address the shortage of human and material resources in primary care and to enhance health outcomes, we developed and implemented a comprehensive digital medicine platform in a real-world setting. Methods A patient application (app) and a web app for healthcare providers were developed to enable bidirectional communication between patients and healthcare providers. Primary physicians and care coordinators utilized this platform to deliver personalized care management. To manage multiple patients with limited staff, automated message generation logic was used. Results Using the app, patients could self-measure blood pressure and blood glucose level, receive feedback from healthcare providers, and obtain personalized medication management, disease education, and lifestyle guidance regarding smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise. Healthcare providers can view the data generated by the patient app, in real time, on the web app, and immediately send messages when an action is required. An evaluation of effectiveness was conducted with 502 patients in the intervention group and 502 patients in the control group over a 24-week intervention. In the intervention group, systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.8% ( P  < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure by 3.4% ( P  < 0.001), body mass index by 1.6% ( P  < 0.001), and waist circumference by 1.5% ( P  < 0.001). HDL cholesterol increased by 2.4% ( P  < 0.05), and triglycerides decreased by 5.4% ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion This study demonstrated that the adoption of a digital medicine platform is effective and essential for continuous patient management in primary care. Information and communications technology-based tools and applications are becoming increasingly important in healthcare, and our study has provided valuable insights into the management of chronic diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-b123dfd527d54508a5c079b2d9893f722025-08-20T02:26:03ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-05-011110.1177/20552076251344375A comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care: A real-world feasibility testYe Seul Bae0Seoyeon Park1Changbo Noh2Boram Choi3Seung Ah Yi4 So Eun Kim5Yoon Ji Kim6Jae-Heon Kang7 Department of Family Medicine, , , Seoul, Republic of Korea Division of Healthcare Planning, , , Seoul, Republic of Korea Division of Healthcare Planning, , , Seoul, Republic of Korea Division of Healthcare Planning, , , Seoul, Republic of Korea Big Data Research Center, , , Seoul, Republic of Korea Big Data Research Center, , , Seoul, Republic of Korea Big Data Research Center, , , Seoul, Republic of Korea Institute for Future Healthcare, , Seoul, Republic of KoreaBackground Hypertension and diabetes are typically managed in primary care settings, where continuous and tailored care based on continuity in daily life is essential to improve health outcomes. Objective To address the shortage of human and material resources in primary care and to enhance health outcomes, we developed and implemented a comprehensive digital medicine platform in a real-world setting. Methods A patient application (app) and a web app for healthcare providers were developed to enable bidirectional communication between patients and healthcare providers. Primary physicians and care coordinators utilized this platform to deliver personalized care management. To manage multiple patients with limited staff, automated message generation logic was used. Results Using the app, patients could self-measure blood pressure and blood glucose level, receive feedback from healthcare providers, and obtain personalized medication management, disease education, and lifestyle guidance regarding smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise. Healthcare providers can view the data generated by the patient app, in real time, on the web app, and immediately send messages when an action is required. An evaluation of effectiveness was conducted with 502 patients in the intervention group and 502 patients in the control group over a 24-week intervention. In the intervention group, systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.8% ( P  < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure by 3.4% ( P  < 0.001), body mass index by 1.6% ( P  < 0.001), and waist circumference by 1.5% ( P  < 0.001). HDL cholesterol increased by 2.4% ( P  < 0.05), and triglycerides decreased by 5.4% ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion This study demonstrated that the adoption of a digital medicine platform is effective and essential for continuous patient management in primary care. Information and communications technology-based tools and applications are becoming increasingly important in healthcare, and our study has provided valuable insights into the management of chronic diseases.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251344375
spellingShingle Ye Seul Bae
Seoyeon Park
Changbo Noh
Boram Choi
Seung Ah Yi
So Eun Kim
Yoon Ji Kim
Jae-Heon Kang
A comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care: A real-world feasibility test
Digital Health
title A comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care: A real-world feasibility test
title_full A comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care: A real-world feasibility test
title_fullStr A comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care: A real-world feasibility test
title_full_unstemmed A comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care: A real-world feasibility test
title_short A comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care: A real-world feasibility test
title_sort comprehensive digital medicine platform for hypertension and diabetes care in primary care a real world feasibility test
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251344375
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