<p>A new study looked at the use of electronic patient-provider messaging and its effects on hemoglobin A1c testing and glycemic control. The authors of the study proposed that inter patient-provider messaging would improve glucose control with a higher adherence rate to A1c testing recommendations.</p><p>To test their hypothesis, Harris et al. conducted an observational retrospective study on secure messaging within the health care system, Group Health. Adults with diabetes who enrolled in the health care system's shared electronic medical record between 2003 to 2006 were analyzed. Primary outcomes of the study focused on indicators of glycemic control (A1c &lt; 7%%) and adherence to A1c testing.</p><p>Log-linear regression was used to analyze the data of 6,301 adults. Patients who utilized the secure messaging system were noted to have improved glycemic control. Frequent users of the patient-physician messaging were 1.26 times more likely to achieve glycemic goals of A1c &lt; 7%. The increased frequency of this form of communication was also associated with1.2 times higher A1c testing rate.</p><p>Lead author, Lynne Harris concluded, "These results suggest that secure messaging may facilitate important processes of care and help some patients to achieve or maintain adequate glycemic control."</p><p><a href="http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/articles/diabetes-news/14696-access-to-patient-provider-messaging-improves-management-of-diabetes">Keep reading...</a></p>