Evaluation of Diabetes Hotline Service Implemented During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Dynamic Adaptation

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic presented major challenges for people living with diabetes. People with diabetes were identified as being at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19. The lockdown and preventive measures, including social distancing measures, implemented worldwide to limit the spread of COVID-19 had negatively impacted access to diabetes care, including self-management services, challenging the way modern medicine had been practiced for decades. This article aims to shed light on the implementation and evaluation of the Diabetes hotline service run by trained diabetes patient educators during the pandemic in Qatar. Methods: The logic model is utilized to showcase the implemented strategies/activities and the output monitoring process. An online survey among hotline users was undertaken to gather feedback on patients' overall experience of using the service and physician feedback. Results: Of the 464 patients surveyed, over 92% stated that they would recommend the hotline service to others, and over 90% indicated that they considered the hotline a trusted and reliable resource for diabetes education and advice. Conclusion: It is expected that the lessons learned from maintaining health care delivery services during the COVID-19 pandemic have created new ways of providing standard care and meeting the needs of people with diabetes. Future research should study the clinical outcomes for patients who benefited from the hotline services and the impact on the well-being of people with diabetes.