Hyderabad: A total of 2,456 individuals from two villages in Medchal district were screened for hypertension and diabetes and the procedure was followed up through virtual technology.
The procedure has been published in an international journal, PLOS One.
The research was carried out to understand whether virtual technology could be effectively used for controlling hypertension and diabetes in the rural belts of India.
The two villages in Medchal district were taken up as they had to travel to visit public health centres and public hospitals in the city.
Dr Shailendra Dange, a senior researcher, said, “The study demonstrates feasibility and local acceptability for the new medium of diagnosis and consultation by doctors. The blood reports and profile of the patients are stored in the cloud. Once the health worker is with the patient the consultation call is activated and the treatment and follow-up taken. It was found that 90 per cent of the patients were managed properly. There was a willingness seen in the follow-up calls in managing the disease.”
Of the 2,456 individuals, 1,751 were screened for hypertension and 1,686 for diabetes. Prevalence of hypertension was 23.6 per cent and diabetes 11.2 per cent. Of the diagnosed individuals 38.9 per cent were newly detected with hypertension and 28.6 per cent were newly detected with diabetes.
The intervention program was carried out for 24 months and the blood pressure control rate improved by 12 per cent in the diagnosed cases and diabetes management had improved.
Covering rural India with the help of virtual technology can be achieved with trained ground workers, who can connect patients to the doctors who are sitting in city hospitals.
