Effect of Telehealth on medication adherence in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients in comparison to traditional tertiary hospital OPD follow-up: A prospective Randomized parallel arm study

Type 2 diabetes mellitus requires long-term pharmacotherapy, and medication adherence plays a critical role in achieving optimal glycemic control and preventing complications. However, poor adherence remains a major barrier to effective disease management, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Telehealth has emerged as a promising strategy to improve continuity of care, enhance patient engagement, and potentially improve treatment adherence.

This prospective randomized parallel-arm study aims to compare the effectiveness of telehealth-based follow-up with traditional in-person outpatient department (OPD) follow-up in improving medication adherence among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a tertiary care center in Uttarakhand, India.

A total of 124 eligible participants will be randomized into two groups: one receiving telehealth follow-up and the other receiving standard in-person follow-up. Medication adherence will be assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), and supported by the pill count method. Clinical outcomes will be evaluated using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose levels. Additionally, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed using the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) to compare both follow-up approaches.

The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence on whether telehealth can serve as an effective alternative to conventional follow-up for improving adherence and clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.