PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Janet Hanley
AU  - Peter Fairbrother
AU  - Lucy McCloughan
AU  - Claudia Pagliari
AU  - Mary Paterson
AU  - Hilary Pinnock
AU  - Aziz Sheikh
AU  - Sarah Wild
AU  - Brian McKinstry
TI  - Qualitative study of telemonitoring of blood glucose and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes
AID  - 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008896
DP  - 2015 Dec 01
TA  - BMJ Open
PG  - e008896
VI  - 5
IP  - 12
4099  - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/12/e008896.short
4100  - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/12/e008896.full
SO  - BMJ Open2015 Dec 01; 5
AB  - Objectives To explore the experiences of patients and professionals taking part in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of blood glucose, blood pressure (BP) and weight telemonitoring in type 2 diabetes supported by primary care, and identify factors facilitating or hindering the effectiveness of the intervention and those likely to influence its potential translation to routine practice.Design Qualitative study adopting an interpretive descriptive approach.Participants 23 patients, 6 nurses and 4 doctors who were participating in a RCT of blood glucose and BP telemonitoring. A maximum variation sample of patients from within the trial based on age, sex and deprivation status of the practice was sought.Setting 12 primary care practices in Scotland and England.Method Data were collected via recorded semistructured interviews. Analysis was inductive with themes presented within an overarching thematic framework. Multiple strategies were employed to ensure that the analysis was credible and trustworthy.Results Telemonitoring of blood glucose, BP and weight by people with type 2 diabetes was feasible. The data generated by telemonitoring supported self-care decisions and medical treatment decisions. Motivation to self-manage diet was increased by telemonitoring of blood glucose, and the ‘benign policing’ aspect of telemonitoring was considered by patients to be important. The convenience of home monitoring was very acceptable to patients although professionals had some concerns about telemonitoring increasing workload and costs.Conclusions Telemonitoring of blood glucose, BP and weight in primary care is a promising way of improving diabetes management which would be highly acceptable to the type of patients who volunteered for this study.Trial registration number ISRCTN71674628; Pre-results.