Actual accessibility to information on patient care via mobile phone used by formal caregivers for people with type 2 diabetes in Thai Binh province in 2019

Abstract

The study aimed to describe the current situation of using mobile phones in accessing information about primary care of patients with type-2 diabetes in Thai Binh province in 2019. The study applied the quantitative research method through interviews with 1,238 subjects who are key informal caregiver for people with type-2 diabetes in two districts of Thai Binh province in 2019. The results show that the percentage of the subjects owning a phone was 96.4%, of which owning a smartphone was 35.7%. The percentage of those who called health staff for information on patient care was 40.6%, find out information via social networks accounted for 41.0%, searched by web browsers accounted for 41.5%. 28.5% of the subjects completely trust the accuracy of information about diabetes they got on internet or social networks when they access. The research suggests that it is necessary to support the use of smart phones as an efficient form of communication about diabetes.