Abstract
BackgroundIndividuals with diabetes are using mobile health (mHealth) to track their self-management. However, individuals can understand even more about their diabetes by sharing these patient-gathered data (PGD) with health professionals. We conducted experience-based co-design (EBCD) workshops, with the aim of gathering end-users’ needs and expectations for a PGD-sharing system.MethodsN = 15 participants provided feedback about their experiences and needs in diabetes care and expectations for sharing PGD. The first workshop (2017) included patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) (n = 4) and general practitioners (GPs) (n = 3). The second workshop (2018) included patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) (n = 5), diabetes specialists (n = 2) and a nurse. The workshops involved two sessions: separate morning sessions for patients and healthcare providers (HCPs), and afternoon session for all participants. Discussion guides included questions about end-users’ perceptions of mHealth and expectations for a data-sharing system. Activities included brainstorming and designing paper-prototypes. Workshops were audio recorded, transcribed and translated from Norwegian to English. An abductive approach to thematic analysis was taken.ResultsEmergent themes were mHealth technologies’ impacts on end-users, and functionalities of a data-sharing system. Within these themes, similarities and differences between those with T1D and T2D, and between HCPs, were revealed. Patients and providers agreed that HCPs could use PGD to provide more concrete self-management recommendations. Participants’ paper-prototypes revealed which data types should be gathered and displayed during consultations, and how this could facilitate shared-decision making.ConclusionThe diverse and differentiated results suggests the need for flexible and tailorable systems that allow patients and providers to review summaries, with the option to explore details, and identify an individual’s challenges, together. Participants’ feedback revealed that both patients and HCPs acknowledge that for mHealth integration to be successful, not only must the technology be validated but feasible changes throughout the healthcare education and practice must be addressed. Only then can both sides be adequately prepared for mHealth data-sharing in diabetes consultations. Subsequently, the design and performance of the joint workshop sessions demonstrated that involving both participant groups together led to efficient and concrete discussions about realistic solutions and limitations of sharing mHealth data in consultations.
Highlights
Individuals with diabetes are using mobile health to track their self-management
Participants’ feedback revealed that both patients and Health Care Provider (HCP) acknowledge that for mobile health (mHealth) integration to be successful, must the technology be validated but feasible changes throughout the healthcare education and practice must be addressed. Can both sides be adequately prepared for mHealth data-sharing in diabetes consultations
While it was not required for participants to offer these information, as the focus was on development of the data-sharing system, some did offer some personal information when asked introductory and ice-breaker questions
Summary
Individuals with diabetes are using mobile health (mHealth) to track their self-management. While it is theoretically ideal to understand all factors that affect a disease, in order to effectively treat it, it inadvertently puts added pressure on healthcare providers (HCPs) and patients to track these factors and understand and react to them It was only 50 years ago, with the invention of the first commercial glucose meter, that patients were given the ability to check their blood glucose at home [2]. Medical devices for diabetes have been developed alongside the necessary systemic changes to the medical system that are required to effectively use such new technologies This trend has shifted as commercial technology, such as mobile health (mHealth) apps and devices, offers patients the ability to track all of the indicated disease factors that are expected of them, often without oversight from medical professionals [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
