Comparison of the Acceptance of Telemonitoring for Glucose Management between South Korea and China

Background: Telemonitoring is used for glucose management and support in many countries. A better understanding of the differences in telemonitoring acceptance based on regional characteristics is needed. Therefore, we compared the acceptance of telemonitoring for glucose management among patients in South Korea and China. Materials and Methods: This study used data from Korean (n = 81) and Chinese (n = 92) subjects with type 2 diabetes. We used two independent sample t-tests to compare patients' perceptions of telemonitoring and multiple regression analysis to determine the factors that affected their behavioral intentions to use telemonitoring. We conducted Wilcoxon signed rank tests to assess the differences in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels from baseline to follow-up. Results: Although Korean and Chinese patients had positive perceptions of the services, different factors influenced their behavioral intentions to use them. In South Korea, performance expectations and social influences were significantly associated with intention to use telemonitoring. Patients younger than 50 years showed a significant decrease in HbA1c levels at month 6 (p < 0.05). In China, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions were significantly associated with intention to use. In addition, subjects in all age groups exhibited a significant decrease in HbA1c levels at all follow-up points (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Telemonitoring was a supportive intervention in improving blood sugar levels among patients with diabetes in South Korea and China, but the factors influencing its use varied. We provide practical guidance for developing telemonitoring for glucose management that considers the distinct characteristics of different countries.