Impact of a PDA-based diabetes electronic management system in a primary care office

The objective was to determine if a personal digital assistant (PDA) diabetes management system improves processes and outcomes of diabetes care in a primary care setting. Outcomes and processes of care were compared between and within 2 groups of patients with type II diabetes. The intervention group of 58 patients was managed for 16 months with the aid of a PDA diabetes management system. The control group of 115 patients from the same clinic was managed by 1 of 5 physicians not using the diabetes management system. PDA use improved 2 processes of care: annual number of foot and eye examinations (P < .0001 for both). PDA use did not have significant effect on outcomes of care. This PDA disease management system can improve providers' ability to meet practice guidelines for processes of care. However, like other recent studies, there was no improvement in outcomes of diabetes care.