Application of telemedicine in home healthcare for patients with diabetic foot ulcers: a randomised controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine in home healthcare for patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) on wound healing time, wound score and patient self-management. METHOD: Participants with DFUs were randomly assigned to either the study group (telemedicine in home healthcare) or to the control group (outpatient face-to-face care). Time to wound healing was identified as the primary outcome. RESULTS: Overall, 74 patients were randomised, and 64 patients were included in the study in the per-protocol analysis (32 patients in the study group and 32 patients in the control group). No significant difference was found in wound healing time between the two groups. Following eight weeks of treatment, there was also no difference in wound score between the two groups. However, the study group showed improved self-management of DFUs compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: In this study, the use of telemedicine in home healthcare for patients with DFUs showed promising results in promoting wound healing, which was comparable to the effects of outpatient face-to-face care. Additionally, it was found to enhance self-management behaviour among patients with DFUs, indicating positive development prospects for this approach. In the future, it would be beneficial to explore the potential of developing a smartphone app specifically designed for wound care to enhance the effectiveness of telemedicine-based hard-to-heal (chronic) wound care services.