Best Evidence Summary for Management of Older People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Using ‘Internet Plus Nursing Services’

Aim

To evaluate and summarise the evidence for the management of older people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using ‘Internet Plus nursing services (IPNS)’.

Design

This study was conducted as an evidence summary, adhering strictly to the evidence summary reporting standards established by Fudan University Center for Evidence-based Nursing.

Methods

We systematically searched for the best available evidence pertaining to the management of older people with T2DM using the IPNS. The literature types encompassed clinical guidelines, expert consensuses, systematic reviews, evidence summaries and original research studies.

Data Sources

In order to gather pertinent information, we conducted a comprehensive search across various databases, including UpToDate, BMJ Best Practice, Joanna Briggs Institute, Guidelines International Network, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Yi Maitong Guidelines Network, SinoMed, CNKI, WanFang database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and China Science and Technology Journal Database. The search spanned from the inception of each database up to July 2023, ensuring an extensive coverage of relevant resources.

Result

After rigorous screening and evaluation, our study ultimately identified 19 articles with high-quality research outcomes. These articles consisted of three guidelines, two expert consensus documents, three systematic reviews and eleven original research studies. Through collaborative and in-depth discussions, we extracted and synthesised 27 pieces of evidence related to the application of the IPNS to enhance the T2DM management for older people. We categorised the evidence into five primary themes: mobile terminal design, team building, health education design, interaction and social support, and information feedback.

Conclusion

In designing the IPNS for older people with T2DM, utmost attention should be paid to the intricacies of Internet module development preceded by comprehensive guidance. It is imperative to establish multidisciplinary teams to oversee the curation of patient educational content, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness. Leveraging Internet-based information feedback mechanisms is crucial for fostering peer support, assisting in blood glucose control, enhancing self-management capabilities and ultimately improving overall quality of life. Healthcare professionals are supposed to customise the IPNS for this vulnerable population, taking into account institutional resources and local contextual realities.

For the Professional Field and Patient Care Implications

It is highly recommended that clinical medical personnel worldwide adhere to the evidence-based recommendations for better care of older people with T2DM using the IPNS.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution was incorporated in this study.

Implications for Practice

Our study provides structured ideas for the application of IPNS in T2DM management, provides practicable new ways for IPNS to improve self-management of older people with T2DM, and encourages the provision of Internet-based nursing services based on the needs and characteristics of older people, and jointly solves the challenges of T2DM management in order to enhance the effectiveness of nursing services.