Development of a Personalized Knowledge Portal to
Support Diabetes Patient Self-management
Marut Buranarach
National Electronics and Computer
Technology Center (NECTEC),
HLT Lab, Thailand Science Park,
Pathumthani, Thailand 12120
marut.bur@nectec.or.th
Rattakhorn Phetsawat
National Electronics and Computer
Technology Center (NECTEC),
HLT Lab, Thailand Science Park,
Pathumthani, Thailand 12120
rattakhorn@hotmail.com
Suwaree Wongrochananan
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn
University, King Chulalongkorn
Memorial Hospital, Pathumwan,
Bangkok, Thailand 10330
den_sou@hotmail.com
Nattanun Thatphithakkul
National Electronics and Computer
Technology Center (NECTEC),
HLT Lab, Thailand Science Park,
Pathumthani, Thailand 12120
nattanun.tha@nectec.or.th
Phongphan Phienphanich
National Electronics and Computer
Technology Center (NECTEC),
HLT Lab, Thailand Science Park,
Pathumthani, Thailand 12120
garpong@gmail.com
Nittayawan Kulnawan
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn
University, King Chulalongkorn
Memorial Hospital, Pathumwan,
Bangkok, Thailand 10330
nittayawan@yahoo.com
Thepchai Supnithi
National Electronics and Computer
Technology Center (NECTEC),
HLT Lab, Thailand Science Park,
Pathumthani, Thailand 12120
thepchai.sup@nectec.or.th
Asanee Kawtrakul
National Electronics and Computer
Technology Center (NECTEC),
Thailand Science Park,
Pathumthani, Thailand 12120
asanee.kaw@nectec.or.th
Wiroj Jiamjarasrangsi
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn
University, King Chulalongkorn
Memorial Hospital, Pathumwan,
Bangkok, Thailand 10330
wjiamja@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Patient self-management is an important component in improving
quality of chronic disease healthcare. The promising benefits of
the Interactive Behavior Change Technology (IBCT) on diabetes
patient self-management are increasingly recognized. In this
paper, we describe development of a knowledge portal prototype
designed for enhancing self-management support among patients
with type-2 diabetes. The portal focuses on personalization of the
provided services: self-regulation, self-monitoring and evaluation,
social support, virtual home visit and reminder. One of the
development challenges is in designing a core framework that
coordinates the related data, knowledge, interactions and
personalized services in facilitating patients’ self-care.
Categories and Subject Descriptors
H.3.4 [Information Systems]: Systems and Software - User
profiles and alert services; H.3.5 [Information Systems]: Online
Information Services – Web-based services; J.3 [Computer
Applications]: Life and Medical Sciences – health
General Terms
Design, Human Factors
Keywords
Interactive Behavior Change Technology, Personalization
1. INTRODUCTION
Diabetes is a worldwide burden; its prevalence is expected to
rise to 366 million by 2030 [1]. Diabetes patients’ daily lives are
generally known to have a great impact on the patients’ health. It
is advocated that diabetes must be principally managed by the
patient on a day-to-day basis such as dietary habits (e.g., size and
timing of meals, carbohydrate and saturated fat intake), increase in
exercise (e.g. walking), intake of medications (correct dosage and
timing as well as consistency over time), and monitoring of blood
sugar levels, blood pressure, blood lipids, feet, and eyes.
Unfortunately, self-management support occurs inconsistently
during outpatient visits [2].
Effective diabetes self-management support requires a complex
series of assessments and instructions. As a result, patients often
require additional support and communication outside of the
traditional clinician visit [2]. Further, the information provided for
patients received should take into account each patient’s
distinctive life circumstances. Thus, providing services aimed at
achieving health-related behavior change is challenging and often
requires the time, knowledge and skills.
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