Table 1

Participants' characteristics by willingness to use an information and communication technology-based self-management tool (n=312)

All (n=312)Willing (n=157)Unwilling (n=154)p Value
Age (years)66.3±11.563.6±12.369.1±10.1<0.01
Sex
 Male198 (63.5)102 (65.0)95 (61.7)0.55
Diabetes type
 Type 116 (5.1)12 (7.6)4 (2.6)0.05
 Type 2291 (93.3)143 (91.1)147 (95.5) 
Time since diagnosis (years)15.3±10.214.3±9.916.3±10.40.09
Treatment
 Oral hypoglycemic agent251 (80.4)127 (80.9)123 (79.9)0.82
 Insulin81 (26.0)46 (29.3)34 (22.1)0.15
 Diet only33 (10.6)16 (10.2)17 (11.0)0.81
 Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels103 (33.0)59 (37.6)43 (27.9)0.07
Complications
 Hypertension233 (74.7)110 (70.1)123 (79.9)0.05
 Dyslipidemia261 (83.7)129 (82.2)132 (85.7)0.39
 Nephropathy (stage 2–4)97 (31.1)40 (25.5)56 (36.4)0.04
 Cerebrovascular disease29 (9.3)11 (7.0)18 (11.7)0.16
 Cardiovascular disease78 (25.0)36 (22.9)42 (27.3)0.38
HbA1c (%)6.9±0.97.0±0.96.9±0.80.80
Body mass index (kg/m2)25.7±4.726.0±5.125.5±4.30.46
Abdominal circumference (cm)91.6±12.291.9±13.391.4±11.10.71
Visceral fat area (cm2)92.2±49.492.7±49.592.1±49.30.76
Working status
 Employed151 (48.4)88 (56.1)62 (40.3)<0.01
Family
 Living alone72 (23.1)35 (22.3)37 (24.0)0.72
Education
 University and over134 (42.9)75 (47.8)58 (37.7)0.09
Feeling busy in daily life
 Yes120 (38.5)73 (46.5)47 (30.5)<0.01
Frequency of outpatient visits
 Once a month or more86 (27.6)51 (32.5)35 (22.7)0.05
Travel time to the hospital (min)57.4±30.757.2±30.657.5±31.00.94
Diabetes education
 Hospitalization with education124 (39.7)65 (41.4)58 (37.7)0.47
 Group education139 (44.6)78 (49.7)61 (39.6)0.07
 Diet instructions by dietitians264 (84.6)134 (85.4)129 (83.8)0.70
Current use of ICT
 Internet183 (58.7)119 (75.8)63 (40.9)<0.01
 Personal computers171 (54.8)111 (70.7)59 (38.3)<0.01
 Smartphones105 (33.7)76 (48.4)28 (18.2)<0.01
Stages of change (diet)
 Precontemplation36 (11.5)12 (7.6)24 (15.6)0.03*
 Contemplation10 (3.2)4 (2.5)6 (3.9) 
 Preparation49 (15.7)31 (19.7)18 (11.7) 
 Action17 (5.4)11 (7.0)6 (3.9) 
 Maintenance200 (64.1)99 (63.1)100 (64.9) 
Stages of change (exercise)
 Precontemplation38 (12.2)14 (8.9)24 (15.6)0.03*
 Contemplation34 (10.9)23 (14.6)11 (7.1) 
 Preparation60 (19.2)35 (22.3)25 (16.2) 
 Action13 (4.2)5 (3.2)7 (4.5) 
 Maintenance162 (51.9)76 (48.4)86 (55.8) 
J-SDSCA
 Specific diet (range, 0–21)13.8±5.013.7±5.113.9±4.90.78
 Exercise (range, 0–14)6.3±4.96.4±4.96.3±5.00.78
 Foot care (range, 0–35)18.8±7.819.9±8.117.8±7.40.02
 Smoking42 (13.5)21 (13.4)21 (13.6)0.95
Self-efficacy (range, 8–32)†24.6±4.324.6±4.224.6±4.41.00
Diabetes-related emotional distress (range, 20–100)‡35.2±13.437.4±14.833.0±11.50.01
  • Data are shown as mean±SD or n (%). Categorical data were analyzed using the χ2 test, while continuous data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney's U test. Some variables have missing data, which were excluded from calculation of mean and SD and these tests.

  • *Comparison of the three groups: precontemplation, contemplation/preparation/action, maintenance.

  • †Measured using the Self-Efficacy Scale for Diabetes self-care.

  • ‡Measured using the Japanese version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale.

  • HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; ICT, information and communication technology; J-SDSCA, Japanese-translated Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure.