TY - JOUR
T1 - Diabetes management among underserved older adults through telemedicine and community health workers
AU - Marsh, Zyrene
AU - Nguyen, Yen
AU - Teegala, Yamini
AU - Cotter, Valerie T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
PY - 2022/1/7
Y1 - 2022/1/7
N2 - Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) disproportionately affects older adults from marginalized communities. In the United States, the prevalence of DM in ages $65 years is twofold higher than the national average for adult populations. Telemedicine and community health workers (CHWs) are emerging diabetes care models but their impact on older adults with limited resources are relatively neglected within the medical literature. Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to explore the impact of telemedicine and CHW interventions for improving A1C levels and self-management behaviors among underserved older adults with DM. Data sources: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses as a reporting guideline. Conclusions: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) administered through telemedicine and CHW interventions were effective for improving A1C levels, self-care adherence, and patient and provider satisfaction among adults aged$50 years. Common barriers to diabetes care include inadequate resources, lack of transportation, inconsistent means of communications, social isolation, and low motivation. Community health workers and telemedicine were effective in improving disease management and optimizing care coordination within the vulnerable adult populations. Implications for practice: Well-coordinated, evidence-based, and population-centered interventions can overcome the unique disparities experienced by underserved older adults with diabetes. Incorporating DSME-guided telemedicine and CHW interventions into primary care can mitigate diabetes-related complications in older populations. The lack of evidence specific to adults aged ≥65 years calls for a universally accepted age range when referring to older adults in future research.
AB - Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) disproportionately affects older adults from marginalized communities. In the United States, the prevalence of DM in ages $65 years is twofold higher than the national average for adult populations. Telemedicine and community health workers (CHWs) are emerging diabetes care models but their impact on older adults with limited resources are relatively neglected within the medical literature. Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to explore the impact of telemedicine and CHW interventions for improving A1C levels and self-management behaviors among underserved older adults with DM. Data sources: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses as a reporting guideline. Conclusions: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) administered through telemedicine and CHW interventions were effective for improving A1C levels, self-care adherence, and patient and provider satisfaction among adults aged$50 years. Common barriers to diabetes care include inadequate resources, lack of transportation, inconsistent means of communications, social isolation, and low motivation. Community health workers and telemedicine were effective in improving disease management and optimizing care coordination within the vulnerable adult populations. Implications for practice: Well-coordinated, evidence-based, and population-centered interventions can overcome the unique disparities experienced by underserved older adults with diabetes. Incorporating DSME-guided telemedicine and CHW interventions into primary care can mitigate diabetes-related complications in older populations. The lack of evidence specific to adults aged ≥65 years calls for a universally accepted age range when referring to older adults in future research.
KW - Aged
KW - Community health workers
KW - Diabetes mellitus
KW - Self-care
KW - Telemedicine
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U2 - 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000595
DO - 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000595
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33859074
AN - SCOPUS:85118793931
SN - 2327-6886
VL - 34
SP - 26
EP - 31
JO - Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
JF - Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
IS - 1
ER -