A pilot study of satisfaction with in-person and remote nutrition guidance for patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Aim: Reporting the results of a satisfaction survey of in-person and remote nutrition guidance for patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Material and Methods: Inclusion criteria were patients with gestational diabetes mellitus who have received in-person and remote nutrition guidance. The remote guidance (20 minutes per session) was conducted by telephone. A questionnaire survey on satisfaction with nutritional guidance was administered at the postpartum follow-up, and information was extracted from the medical records. Primary outcome was satisfaction with remote nutrition guidance compared with in-person nutrition guidance for gestational diabetes mellitus, measured using a 150-mm visual analogue scale.

Results: The analysis included 30 subjects (age 34 ± 4.0 years old, 6.7% using insulin and 86.7% using self-glucose meters). The number of nutritional guidance sessions (median [interquartile range]) was 1 [1, 2] in-person and 2 [1, 3] remote. Satisfaction with remote nutritional guidance based on in-person nutritional guidance was 0.0 [-13.0, 0.0] mm, with no difference between in-person and remote nutritional guidance (p = 0.411). Physical burden was -56.0 [-75.0, -22.8] mm (p <0.001), time burden was -49.0 [-75.0, -23.5] mm (p <0.001), and comprehension was -2.5 [-39.8, 0.0] mm (p <0.001). Satisfaction was negatively associated with lack of talk (correlation coefficient = −0.430, p = 0.018) and positively associated with connection to practice (correlation coefficient = 0.455, p = 0.012).

Conclusion: There was no significant difference in satisfaction between remote nutrition guidance and in-person nutrition guidance for gestational diabetes mellitus. Remote nutrition guidance was less of a burden on the body and time than in-person nutrition guidance, but that showed a lower level of understanding. Satisfaction with remote nutritional guidance compared to in-person nutritional guidance was related to lack of talk and connection to practice.