Global Landscape of Telehealth Interventions for Type 2 Diabetes Self-Care: A Scoping Review of Nursing Roles, Care Models, and Outcomes
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires ongoing self-care support to minimize preventable complications. Telehealth interventions have the potential to extend diabetes self-management education and support beyond conventional face-to-face care. However, the specific contributions of nursing roles, conceptual frameworks, and digital care architectures have not been comprehensively synthesized. Objective: This scoping review aimed to map global evidence on telehealth interventions for T2DM self-care. Methods: The review was conducted in accordance with Arksey and O'Malley's framework, JBI scoping review guidance, and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. Electronic databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, Scopus, Taylor AND Francis Online, ScienceDirect, and Sage Journals, were systematically searched for empirical studies published between January 1, 2021, to June 26, 2026, examining telehealth, mHealth, telenursing, or digital self-care interventions for adults with T2DM involving nursing or nursing-relevant digital care component. Data were charted using the systematic table and synthesized through descriptive and thematic analysis. Results: A total of 26 studies were included, representing diverse models such as app-based self-management, messaging platforms, telemonitoring, virtual education, EHR-supported discharge pathways, virtual group visits, and comprehensive telehealth. Nursing roles were categorized as digital education, clinical monitoring, care coordination, behavioral coaching, medication and follow-through support, peer-support moderation, and digital onboarding. Of the 26 included studies, nine (34.6%) were classified as nurse-led, five (19.2%) as nurse-supported, seven (26.9%) as multidisciplinary/team-based, and five (19.2%) had insufficient reporting to isolate a nurse-specific intervention role. Interventions featuring structured nurse involvement, individualized feedback, theory-informed behavior-change strategies, and escalation pathways demonstrated the most consistent improvements in self-care behaviors and selected glycemic outcomes, particularly HbA1c and fasting blood glucose. Conclusion: Telehealth interventions for T2DM self-care should be regarded as hybrid care models rather than solely technology-based tools. The synthesized evidence supports nurse-mediated, theory-informed, and equity-sensitive digital diabetes care, while underscoring the need for improved reporting on nursing scope, digital engagement, clinical escalation, fidelity, cost, and implementation context.
Source: Patient Preference and Adherence
DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s635886
Institution: Padjadjaran University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,836
OpenAlex ID: W7223692060