“In the current era of digital technology development, mobile health applications have opened the door for greater progress in order to be able to better manage diabetes mellitus,” said Dien Kurtanty when presenting the results of his dissertation entitled “Mobile Health-Based Diabetes Mellitus Intervention Model” at an open session of Doctoral Promotion in Public Health Sciences FPH UI, Thursday, July 6, 2023. Dien’s dissertation was motivated by the number of diabetes mellitus which is increasing every year. The government has made efforts to create a diabetes management program called PROLANIS (Chronic Disease Management Program). However, the prevalence of diabetes which has increased by 20% in the last 5 years indicates that existing programs still need to be evaluated and require updating to achieve more optimal results. For this reason, Dien conducted research aimed at providing a mobile health-based diabetes management independent intervention model.
Dien uses quantitative and qualitative research methods in his research. From this research, it was found that behavioral skills are a determining factor in modeling changes in diabetic self-management behavior. Diabetes mellitus will be easier to control if the patient has independence in managing the disease. “The DIEN model can help increase community empowerment to achieve independence in managing diabetes,” said Dien Kurtanty. The DIEN model (Diabetes self-reliance, Intervention, Electronic basis, Network system) itself is an action designed to help patients become independent through nutrition therapy, physical activity, blood sugar monitoring, and integrated drug therapy through digital technology.
The DIEN model also plays a role in the transformation of primary services and the transformation of health technology. Dien suggested further research related to self-reliance in diabetes patients and continuing to develop the current DIEN model. In addition, Dien also suggested to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia to develop an independent strategy for managing diabetes mellitus, one of which is the development of integrated mobile health. BPJS Health is also advised to provide a financing model that uses the DIEN model as a diabetes mellitus management program.
The doctoral promotion open session which was held in a mixed manner presented dr. Adang Bachtiar, M.P.H., D.Sc., as Promoter, the examiner team consisted of 6 people, namely Dr. Tris Eryando, M.A .; Prof. Dr. dr. Rizanda Machmud, M.Kes., FISPH., FISCM.; Dr. dr. Trihono, M.Sc.; Dr. dr. Andi Alfian Zainuddin, M.K.M .; Azizah Rahmawati, M.Kom., and Prof. Dr. dr. Fahmi Idris, M. Kes. Dien Kurtanty was also declared to have graduated as a doctorate in the field of Public Health Sciences (IKM) with a cum laude predicate. Dien Kurtanty is a graduate of the 9th Public Health Sciences Doctoral Program in 2023, the 284th Public Health Sciences Doctoral Program graduate, and the 368th Doctoral graduate of FPH UI. (WR)
