A Systematic Review on the Impact of Electronic Consultations on Diabetes Care
Authors' conclusion
E-consults provide valuable benefits in managing diabetes, particularly in resource-limited settings. E-consults offer a promising solution to the endocrinologist shortage, though further research is needed to identify which PWD would benefit most.
Study context
- Population
- People with diabetes managed in primary care6 studies: 2 RCTs, 4 observational
- Comparison
- E-consults vs control
- Outcome
- Change in HbA1c levels (glycemic control)
Methodological detailsnarrative synthesis, PRISMA 2020, Searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library; two independent reviewers, Limitations: only 2 trials and 4 observational studies; heterogeneity
- Narrative synthesis
- PRISMA 2020
- Searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library; two independent reviewers
- Limitations: only 2 trials and 4 observational studies; heterogeneity
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
HbA1c
- Most studies did not report significant differences in HbA1c between e-consult and control
Further pooled results
Other benefits
- Improved medication usage, reduced costs, enhanced access to specialist care, shorter wait times for in-person visits, better educational opportunities for primary care physicians (PCPs)
Implementation barriers
- PCP familiarity with e-consults and patient adherence
Original publication
A Systematic Review on the Impact of Electronic Consultations on Diabetes Care. Endocr Pract. Published 7 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →