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Social Support for Diabetes Self-Management via eHealth Interventions

  • Psychosocial Aspects (S Jaser and KK Hood, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

eHealth interventions have been increasingly used to provide social support for self-management of type 2 diabetes. In this review, we discuss social support interventions, types of support provided, sources or providers of support, outcomes of the support interventions (clinical, behavioral, psychosocial), and logistical and clinical considerations for support interventions using eHealth technologies. Many types of eHealth interventions demonstrated improvements in self-management behaviors, psychosocial outcomes, and clinical measures, particularly HbA1c. Important factors to consider in clinical application of eHealth support interventions include participant preferences, usability of eHealth technology, and availability of personnel to orient or assist participants. Overall, eHealth is a promising adjunct to clinical care as it addresses the need for ongoing support in chronic disease management.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University, DUMC 3322 307 Trent Dr., Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Allison Vorderstrasse, Allison Lewinski & Constance Johnson

  2. NYU College of Nursing, 433 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10010, USA

    Gail D’Eramo Melkus

Authors
  1. Allison Vorderstrasse
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  2. Allison Lewinski
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  3. Gail D’Eramo Melkus
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  4. Constance Johnson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allison Vorderstrasse.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

The authors can attest that for the one study reviewed that was performed by two authors (Johnson, et al., 2014): All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Psychosocial Aspects

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Vorderstrasse, A., Lewinski, A., Melkus, G.D. et al. Social Support for Diabetes Self-Management via eHealth Interventions. Curr Diab Rep 16, 56 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-016-0756-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-016-0756-0

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