The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if sending three (3) text messages per week over a six (6) months period to people with Type 2 Diabetes in areas with lack access to dietitian could help them stick to a healthier diet. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does a mobile phone text-message intervention improve dietary adherence among T2DM patients? * Does a mobile phone text-message intervention improve HbA1c and self-management among T2DM patients? Researchers will compare dietary adherence, HbA1c changes and self-management behaviors between the usual care group and intervention group. Participants will: * Be given three (3) text messages per week over a six (6) months period for the intervention group * Both usual care and intervention group will be given standard medical nutrition therapy at baseline, 3rd and 6th months visits to the clinic
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
62
Participants from the intervention group will receive the usual care over the 6-month intervention period
Participants from the intervention group will receive the usual care and an additional three text messages per week via WhatsApp over the 6-month intervention period
Ranau District Hospital and Klinik Kesihatan Kundasang
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Comparison of dietary adherence at 3-month and 6-month between the usual care group and intervention group
Dietary adherence to diabetic diet will be evaluated against a modified healthy eating index (HEI). A 3-day dietary record methodology (2 weekdays and 1 weekend) will be used and analyzed based on Malaysian and Singapore Food Composition Databases. The modified version of HEI used in this study consists of 14 components. Sum scores of each component yields and overall score of diet quality which will be converted into scale of zero to 100. A higher the HEI score indicates a greater adherence. The overall dietary adherence will be classified as low (below 51%), needing improvement (51-80%), or high (more than 80 points)
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Comparison of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at 3-month and 6-month between the usual care group and intervention group
Change in HbA1c will be determined by blood test at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The HbA1c result will be retrieved from the participants' routine blood result at health clinic or hospital, which will be analyzed following a standardized analytic protocol of Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Comparison of self-management behavior at 3-month and 6-month between the usual care group and intervention group
The Malay version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) will be used to measure diabetes self-management activities. The SDSCA will be used to examine the participants' compliance in performing five main self-care activities. The degree of compliance or frequency with which the person engages in each self-care behavior is considered when interpreting the SDSCA scores. Higher ratings across the board typically suggest better adherence and more active diabetes self-management.
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Esther Alim Albert
CONTACT
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