Effectiveness of a Web-based Application on Health Literacy, Self-Efficacy, Self-Care, and Glycemic Control in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The web-based application serves as a technology platform that enhances health literacy by providing diabetes-related content, activities, and quizzes. It boosts self-efficacy by enabling users to set health goals, promote self-care through practical activities, and use data collection and reminders to help regulate blood sugar and adopt healthy habits for elderly patients. This research study is experimental and includes a randomized controlled trial. The objectives of this study were to compare the effectiveness of using web-based applications in developing health literacy, self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and blood sugar levels. The sample group consisted of 60 elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar levels, made up of 30 people in the experimental group and 30 people in the control group. In the experiment, the web-based application was utilized over a period of 12 weeks to carry out a health literacy assessment. Self-efficacy, self-care, and blood sugar levels (FBS and HbA1C) were assessed before the experiment (Week 0, T1), immediately after the experiment (Week 12, T2), and during the follow-up period (Week 24, T3). The data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA statistics. The results indicated that in T2 and T3, the experimental group achieved an average health literacy score, accompanied by an increase in self-efficacy, enhanced self-care, and a reduction in FBS and HbA1C that was greater than in T1, with statistical significance (p<.05). Moreover, the experimental group showed a greater increase in average health literacy scores, self-efficacy, and self-care compared to the control group, with fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1C levels decreasing more significantly than in the control group, at a statistically significant level (p<.05). In conclusion, the web-based application was able to promote health literacy among patients as it improved self-efficacy, self-care behavior, and the ability to regulate glycemic control in T2 and T3.