Researchers studying the benefits of opening an internet-based channel of communication between heart-risk patients and their GPs, have found better communication leads to better heart conditions.
Researchers at the Temple University have found communicating the key to a healthy heart. Photo: Blood pressure monitor. Credit: Andreas D./Flickr
The four-year study conducted by the Temple University Hospital, along with colleagues at Temple’s Telemedicine Research Centre, examined patients in both rural and urban settings who interacted with their doctor via an internet health reporting system in conjunction with regular checkups with GPs.
The team found increased communications with their doctors inspired them to better look after their health with the result of significant lowering of blood pressure, and improvements in blood lipid levels and cardiovascular disease risk score.
“Communication between a patient and their primary care provider works for prevention of cardiovascular disease, whether it’s in the office, or over the internet,” said Alfred Bove, professor emeritus of medicine at the School of Medicine and chief of cardiology at Temple University Hospital.
“With rising healthcare costs, a telemedicine system can encourage communication between patients and their doctors with less cost and time commitment than frequent doctor visits,” he said.
Participants in the survey were divided into a control and telemedicine group, with the surprise for researchers being that both groups showed significant improvements.
Each were given a blood pressure monitoring device and a device to measure steps taken per day. Both transmitted information back to cardiologists, the latter using the internet.
While improvement in cardiovascular illness was expected in the telemedicine group, Prof. Bove said the reason the control group improved their health was due to the efforts of clinic nurses who “did an excellent job in communicating to patients the importance of preventing cardiovascular disease.”
The findings will be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting on March 30.
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