9 August 2007
An interactive telephone system designed to educate, monitor and coach patients with Type 2 diabetes could revolutionise treatment of diabetes sufferers in Australia.
Monash University, The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Boston University in association with Princess Alexandra Hospital are getting ready to recruit 340 adults with Type 2 diabetes for a new trial to evaluate the computerised system.
The Telephone-Linked Care (TLC) Diabetes Program is aimed at complementing the support currently provided to people with Type 2 diabetes by general practitioners, endocrinologists, diabetes educators and other health workers. The program will be officially launched at QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation on 9 August at 6.30pm.
Lead researcher Professor Brian Oldenburg, from Monash University's Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, said users could call the system, which consisted of a computer equipped with sophisticated speech recognition and voice processing software, from a home or mobile phone.
"TLC interviews and converses with the user via prerecorded statements and questions. It 'listens' to answers and records them in the database and uses them to provide feedback and tailor current and future conversations. Prior to each call, users will also upload their most recent glucose meter results via a data transmitter connected to a dedicated mobile phone," Professor Oldenberg said.
"This system addresses the important need to develop new approaches for dealing with chronic disease in Australia, while doing so in a way which will be efficient and cost-effective."
Associate Professor Susan Ash, from QUT's School of Public Health, said the TLC Diabetes Program aimed to empower people to take control of the day-to-day management of their condition.
"While it will not replace doctors' care, the TLC system will allow people with Type 2 diabetes to be actively involved in self-monitoring and managing their condition," Professor Ash said.
"Because the feedback they get from TLC is based on their blood sugar levels, users will get feedback immediately about diabetes management. This will assist in making decisions about their lifestyle."
This new telehealth program, aimed at helping patients improve nutrition, physical activity, blood glucose testing and medication taking, is based on technology developed at Boston University Medical Centre over the past 15 years.
While it will initially be evaluated in Brisbane, it has particular relevance for individuals with diabetes who are currently disadvantaged by distance and/or who have poor access to health services elsewhere in Queensland.
This project is supported by funding from HCF Foundation, NHMRC and Queensland Health.
For further information, contact Professor Brian Oldenberg on 0419 025692 or Dr Dominique Bird at the Centre for Online Health, University of Queensland, on +617 3636 5506 or email TLCDiabetes@coh.uq.edu.au. | 
