U-health service for managing chronic disease: A case study on managing metabolic syndrome in a health center in South Korea

Abstract

Objectives: We were to analyze the effect of managing metabolic syndrome using a u-health service in a health center. Methods: We collected biometric data from 316 subjects living in a county (gun) in South Korea before and after the introduction of u-health services in 2010. Analysis was done by contingency table using SPSS and latent growth model using AMOS. Results: We found that regional u-health services affected instance of metabolic syndrome. Further, biometrics and health behavior improved. After six months of u-health services, the number of subjects with three or more factors for metabolic syndrome decreased by 62.5%; 63.3% of regular drinkers stopped drinking; 83.3% of subjects who rarely exercised began to exercise twice a week or more; and 60.9% of smokers stopped smoking. Conclusions: U-health services can change health behavior and biometrics to manage metabolic syndrome in rural areas. The usefulness of u-health services is discussed. © 2011 The Korean Society of Medical Informatics.