Summary:
In older adults with type 2 diabetes, an interactive virtual assistant device programmed with a behavioral intervention significantly improved mental distress, quality of life, diabetes self-care behaviors, and glycemic control compared to usual care without the device, though it was associated with no adverse events or withdrawals.
| PICO | Description |
|---|---|
| Population | Older adults (≥65 years) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes receiving care at an academic medical center in Brazil. |
| Intervention | Use of an interactive virtual assistant device (Amazon Echo Dot, 3rd generation) programmed with a behavioral intervention model over a 12-week period. |
| Comparison | Standard diabetes care alone without the addition of the virtual assistant device or behavioral model. |
| Outcome | Significant improvements in mental distress (MD −1.46; 95% CI, −2.73 to −0.19; P = .02), quality of life (MD 9.46; P = .001), diabetes self-care adherence (MD 3.40; P < .001), and glycemic control (MD −0.48% HbA1c; P = .01). No statistically significant difference in perceived stress (P = .07); no adverse events reported. |
Source: Matzenbacher, Lucas S., et al. “Interactive Virtual Assistant for Health Promotion Among Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: The IVAM-ED Randomized Clinical Trial.” Read article here.
