Investigating readiness to using Internet and mobile services of diabetic patients of a middle-income country

Background: Diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide especially in developing countries like Iran as a consequence of urbanization also use of the Internet and mobile service are increasing as well. The independent use of Internet and mobile technologies by the patients is a key step towards self-care management of the disease. Summary of work: A validated questionnaire used to collect data from patients and calculated face and content validity and reliability. The questionnaires were completed between July and September 2013 by patients between 20 to 60 years of age who come to two diabetic clinics for routine checkup. The questionnaire had two parts; the first part consisted of 16 items collecting demographics information. If the patients answered that they used the internet on a routine basis they were asked then to complete the second part. The second part of the questionnaire contained 26 items about the specific use of the Internet and mobile service to access information and one open question on the same issue. Summary of results: 407 questionnaires were completed by patients with DM. 108 (26, 5%) had routine access to Internet. Of all patients who had access to Internet 95, 4 % had routine access to mobile services; 92, 6% sent and received SMS and 77, 8 % were positive to the use of Persian website for medical information. Discussion and Conclusion: Most diabetic patients in this study were willing to receive educational material by the Internet and preferred to use a Farsi website. Take-home massage: Patients with DM can be reached with Internet and mobile learning services that can help improve the patients’ self-care management of the disease.