There were three reported  deaths out of 3578 participants .Computer-based  diabetes self-management interventions currently have limited effectiveness .
Current interventions do not show adequate evidence for improving depression , health-related quality of life or weight .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Computer-based diabetes self-management interventions to manage type 2 diabetes appear to have a small beneficial effect on blood glucose control and the effect was larger in the mobile phone subgroup .
There is no evidence to show benefits in other biological outcomes or any cognitive , behavioural or emotional outcomes
BACKGROUND Diabetes is one of the commonest chronic medical conditions , affecting around 347 million adults worldwide .
Structured patient education programmes reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications four-fold .
Internet-based self-management programmes have been shown to be effective for a number of long-term conditions , but it is unclear what are the essential or effective components of such programmes .
If computer-based self-management interventions improve outcomes in type 2 diabetes , they could potentially provide a cost-effective option for reducing the burdens placed on patients and healthcare systems by this long-term condition .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects on health status and health-related quality of life of computer-based diabetes self-management interventions for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus .
Interactive Health Communication Applications for people with chronic disease.
BACKGROUND : Interactive Health Communication Applications ( IHCAs ) are computer-based , usually web-based health information packages for patients that combine information with at least one of social support , decision support , or behaviour change support . These are innovations in health care and their effects on health are uncertain . OBJECTIVES : To assess the effects of IHCAs for people with chronic disease . SEARCH STRATEGY : We design ed a four-part search strategy . First , we search ed electronic bibliographic data bases for published work ; second , we search ed the grey literature and third , we search ed for ongoing and recently completed clinical trials in the appropriate data bases . Finally , research ers of included studies were contacted , and reference lists from relevant primary and review articles were followed up . As IHCAs require relatively new technology , the search commenced at 1990 where possible . SELECTION CRITERIA : R and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) of Interactive Health Communication Applications for adults and children with chronic disease . DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS : One review er screened abstract s. Two review ers screened all c and i date studies to determine eligibility , apply quality criteria , and extract data from included studies . Authors of included RCTs were contacted for missing data . Results of RCTs were pooled using a r and om effects model and st and ardised mean differences ( SMDs ) were calculated to provide net effect sizes . MAIN RESULTS : We screened 24,757 unique citations and retrieved 958 papers for further assessment , yielding 28 RCTs involving 4042 participants . One of these had an inadequate method of concealment of allocation , and sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the effects of including or excluding these data in the meta-analyses . Results in the abstract are from the meta-analyses excluding data from this study .IHCAs were found to have a positive effect on knowledge ( SMD 0.49 ; 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) 0.14 to 0.84 ) and on social support ( SMD 0.47 ; 95 % CI 0.28 to 0.66 ) . IHCAs were found to have no effect on self-efficacy ( SMD 0.15 ; 95 % CI -0.13 to 0.43 ) or behavioural outcomes ( SMD -0.09 ; 95 % CI -0.49 to 0.32 ) . IHCAs had a negative effect on clinical outcomes ( SMD -0.32 ; 95 % CI -0.63 to -0.02 ) . REVIEW ERS ' CONCLUSIONS : The number and range of IHCAs is increasing rapidly ; however there is a shortage of high quality evaluative data . Consumers who wish to increase their knowledge or social support amongst people with a similar problem may find an IHCA helpful . However , consumers whose primary aim is to achieve optimal clinical outcomes should not use an IHCA at present . Further research is needed to determine the reason for this negative effect on clinical outcomes , whether an optimal IHCA can achieve behaviour change and improved health outcomes , and if so , what are the essential features of such an IHCA , and the extent to which they differ according to patient group or condition
There were three reported  deaths out of 3578 participants .Computer-based  diabetes self-management interventions currently have limited effectiveness .
Current interventions do not show adequate evidence for improving depression , health-related quality of life or weight .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Computer-based diabetes self-management interventions to manage type 2 diabetes appear to have a small beneficial effect on blood glucose control and the effect was larger in the mobile phone subgroup .
There is no evidence to show benefits in other biological outcomes or any cognitive , behavioural or emotional outcomes
BACKGROUND Diabetes is one of the commonest chronic medical conditions , affecting around 347 million adults worldwide .
Structured patient education programmes reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications four-fold .
Internet-based self-management programmes have been shown to be effective for a number of long-term conditions , but it is unclear what are the essential or effective components of such programmes .
If computer-based self-management interventions improve outcomes in type 2 diabetes , they could potentially provide a cost-effective option for reducing the burdens placed on patients and healthcare systems by this long-term condition .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects on health status and health-related quality of life of computer-based diabetes self-management interventions for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus .