The Role of Telenursing in the Self-Care Education of Diabetes Patients: A Narrative Revie

Fatemeh  Roustaei; Samaneh  Fallah-Karimi; Zahra Khalilzadeh Farsangi; Fatihe Kerman  Saravi

doi:10.18502/ijdl.v25i6.20855

Fatemeh Roustaei Community Health Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Samaneh Fallah-Karimi Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
Zahra Khalilzadeh Farsangi Nursing Department, Zarand School of Nursing, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Fatihe Kerman Saravi Community Health Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijdl.v25i6.20855

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a chronic condition that can significantly impairs quality of life and requires long-term care due to its complications. Effective self-care education plays a key role in blood glucose control and in the prevention of diabetes-related complications. Telenursing is considered a promising approach to enhance self-care education in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This study was a systematic review conducted using a three-stage search strategy. Using Persian and English keywords including "telenursing," "self-care," and "diabetes," as well as their MeSH equivalents, relevant literature was searched in Persian databases (Magiran, SID) and international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) within the time frame of 2000 to 2023. After applying inclusion criteria, 17 out of 1,092 retrieved articles were selected for final review and analysis.

Results: A total of 1,092 articles were initially retrieved. After removing duplicates and applying the inclusion criteria, 17 relevant articles were included in the review. These studies evaluated the use of telenursing—either via telephone or in combination with other technologies—for effectively improving self-care behaviors in diabetic patients.

Conclusion: The findings indicated that telephone calls can serve as a potential method of remote nursing care for educating patients on diabetes self-management. Nurses can utilize telenursing as an effective and efficient educational tool to enhance blood glucose control in diabetic patients. This approach not only improves the quality of healthcare services but also empowers patients to manage their disease more consciously and prevent its complications.