Effects of traditional versus m-Health educational interventions for diabetic patients: a randomised controlled trial in peripheral district of Bangladesh

Background: Mobile Health i.e. m-Health Education (MHE) and Traditional Health Education (THE) interventions are both used for education of diabetic patients. However, it is not yet reported which one is the most effective. This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of these two types of intervention on adherence to the seven dimensions of diabetes' self-management in a peripheral district of Bangladesh. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Thakurgaon district, in Bangladesh, with two intervention arms (-MHE and THE- and one control group. All groups received an initial educational session including the control group. During the educational session pictorial materials was used and patients received a logbook to register their different activities related to diabetes. The intervention was conducted over a period of 12 months. MHE group received additionally a monthly reminder and monitoring through mobile phone calls. THE group received a monthly home visit reminder and monitoring through personal visits. 330 adult diabetics patients were included in each group. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire at baseline and endline. Adherence to the seven self-management dimensions was measured and compared in the different groups before and after the intervention using analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) and logistic regression technique. Findings: Study participants took place from January 2016 to June 2017. Among the 990 included patients, 86 were lost to follow-up. Both MHE and THE groups showed significant (p