Charlotte Wang Chen, Alexa Jacqueline Durante, Margaret Grace Maynard, Marina Reznik, Lori Laffel, Shivani Agarwal
Background: Inequity in diabetes technology use persists among Black and Hispanic youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Community health workers (CHWs) can address social and clinical barriers to diabetes device use. However, more information is needed on clinicians' perceptions to inform the development of a CHW model for youth with T1D.
Objective: This study aimed to identify barriers to diabetes technology use and cocreate solutions in collaboration with diabetes and school-based clinicians serving Black and Hispanic youth with T1D.
Methods: Using human-centered design, the study team conducted 2-hour web-based workshops with clinicians from a diabetes clinic or school-based clinics at a safety net hospital in the Bronx, New York. The workshops promoted active ideation of barriers and co-design of a CHW intervention prototype to address self-reported challenges. Workshops were analyzed using a qualitative inductive approach.
Results: A total of 17 participants completed the human-centered design workshops and surveys. Of these, 11 (65%) were clinicians from the diabetes clinic and 6 (35%) were school-based clinicians from elementary, middle, and high schools in the Bronx. A total of 4 workshops were conducted. The perceived diabetes device barriers for youth with T1D and their families by participants were general health-related social needs (HRSNs) and diabetes technology-specific HRSNs that interfered with technology uptake, such as housing and financial insecurity, as well as digital social needs; and difficulty navigating health care systems, insurance, and pharmacy benefits due to the high level of care coordination required by caregivers. In addition, the participants identified barriers that interfered with their ability to support youth with T1D with diabetes technology, such as limited support for using diabetes technology in school and lack of time and technology support to troubleshoot problems in diabetes clinics. Ways in which a CHW could help mitigate these barriers include (1) identifying and addressing HRSNs by directing patients to appropriate resources; (2) providing peer support for caregivers to navigate diabetes device logistics; (3) acting as a school liaison to improve communication and coordination between caregivers, schools, and diabetes clinicians; and (4) offering administrative support to offload the logistical burden of clinicians.
Conclusions: Important needs related to specialized technology support, enhanced care coordination, family-clinician communication, and administrative task shifting were identified by clinicians to inform a CHW model for youth with T1D. Continued co-design and pilot testing are needed to refine the model.
{"title":"The Role of Community Health Workers in Improving Diabetes Device Use Among Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: A Web-Based Qualitative Study Using Human-Centered Design With Clinicians.","authors":"Charlotte Wang Chen, Alexa Jacqueline Durante, Margaret Grace Maynard, Marina Reznik, Lori Laffel, Shivani Agarwal","doi":"10.2196/76387","DOIUrl":"10.2196/76387","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inequity in diabetes technology use persists among Black and Hispanic youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Community health workers (CHWs) can address social and clinical barriers to diabetes device use. However, more information is needed on clinicians' perceptions to inform the development of a CHW model for youth with T1D.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to identify barriers to diabetes technology use and cocreate solutions in collaboration with diabetes and school-based clinicians serving Black and Hispanic youth with T1D.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using human-centered design, the study team conducted 2-hour web-based workshops with clinicians from a diabetes clinic or school-based clinics at a safety net hospital in the Bronx, New York. The workshops promoted active ideation of barriers and co-design of a CHW intervention prototype to address self-reported challenges. Workshops were analyzed using a qualitative inductive approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 17 participants completed the human-centered design workshops and surveys. Of these, 11 (65%) were clinicians from the diabetes clinic and 6 (35%) were school-based clinicians from elementary, middle, and high schools in the Bronx. A total of 4 workshops were conducted. The perceived diabetes device barriers for youth with T1D and their families by participants were general health-related social needs (HRSNs) and diabetes technology-specific HRSNs that interfered with technology uptake, such as housing and financial insecurity, as well as digital social needs; and difficulty navigating health care systems, insurance, and pharmacy benefits due to the high level of care coordination required by caregivers. In addition, the participants identified barriers that interfered with their ability to support youth with T1D with diabetes technology, such as limited support for using diabetes technology in school and lack of time and technology support to troubleshoot problems in diabetes clinics. Ways in which a CHW could help mitigate these barriers include (1) identifying and addressing HRSNs by directing patients to appropriate resources; (2) providing peer support for caregivers to navigate diabetes device logistics; (3) acting as a school liaison to improve communication and coordination between caregivers, schools, and diabetes clinicians; and (4) offering administrative support to offload the logistical burden of clinicians.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Important needs related to specialized technology support, enhanced care coordination, family-clinician communication, and administrative task shifting were identified by clinicians to inform a CHW model for youth with T1D. Continued co-design and pilot testing are needed to refine the model.</p>","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e76387"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426574/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nanna Lind, Per Bækgaard, Jakob E Bardram, Claus Cramer-Petersen, Kirsten Nørgaard, Merete B Christensen
<p><strong>Background: </strong>Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex, chronic condition that requires ongoing management. An important aspect of effective diabetes management is shared decision-making between the person with diabetes and the health care professionals (HCPs) to tailor individual treatment plans. Personal health technologies can play a crucial role in this collaborative effort by providing tools for monitoring, communication, and education.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to test the clinical feasibility of DiaFocus, a mobile health system developed for adults with T2D.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a single-arm, prospective, 6-month pilot study in a clinical outpatient setting at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Denmark. The DiaFocus system includes an app for the participants and a web portal for the HCPs. The system collects diabetes-related data, including participant-reported lifestyle surveys, sensor-based measures on physical activity, and participant-selected focus areas, aiming to support communication and shared decision-making at clinical visits. Participants were eligible if they were ≥18 years old, diagnosed with T2D≥12 months, spoke Danish, and had a smartphone (iOS 13+ or Android 8.0+). For each participant, 3 visits and 1 telephone call were scheduled during the 6-month study period. The DiaFocus system's acceptability and feasibility were assessed through retention rates, app usage, participant feedback, and by the CACHET Unified Method for Assessment of Clinical Feasibility (CUMACF) questionnaire. The clinical outcomes were assessed by the following questionnaires: Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Perceived Competence for Diabetes (PCDS), Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQs+c), hemoglobin A1c levels, and body weight.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 17 participants with T2D were included in the study, 15 completed the study, and data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. The median age was 68 (IQR 56-72) years, 12 (71%) were males, the median diabetes duration was 18 (IQR 11-21) years, and the median hemoglobin A1c was 59 (IQR 49-68) mmol/mol. Participants found the DiaFocus system feasible to support diabetes management despite technical problems, and they valued the ability to set focus areas. The most common focus areas were "blood glucose" (n=10, 59%) and "exercise" (n=9, 53%), but areas such as "sleep" and "mood" were also used. The CUMACF questionnaire showed that 90% (9/10) of the participants had very favorable views of how easy the system is to understand, learn, and use, and 80% (8/10) of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that the system was useful. Feedback was generally positive, indicating participants would use a refined version. Despite these findings, no statistically significant changes in clinical outcomes were observed throughout the study period using the DiaFocus system.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This pilot study d
{"title":"Assessing the Clinical Feasibility of the DiaFocus System for Integrated Personalized Management of Type 2 Diabetes: 6-Month Pilot Cohort Study.","authors":"Nanna Lind, Per Bækgaard, Jakob E Bardram, Claus Cramer-Petersen, Kirsten Nørgaard, Merete B Christensen","doi":"10.2196/63894","DOIUrl":"10.2196/63894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex, chronic condition that requires ongoing management. An important aspect of effective diabetes management is shared decision-making between the person with diabetes and the health care professionals (HCPs) to tailor individual treatment plans. Personal health technologies can play a crucial role in this collaborative effort by providing tools for monitoring, communication, and education.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to test the clinical feasibility of DiaFocus, a mobile health system developed for adults with T2D.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a single-arm, prospective, 6-month pilot study in a clinical outpatient setting at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Denmark. The DiaFocus system includes an app for the participants and a web portal for the HCPs. The system collects diabetes-related data, including participant-reported lifestyle surveys, sensor-based measures on physical activity, and participant-selected focus areas, aiming to support communication and shared decision-making at clinical visits. Participants were eligible if they were ≥18 years old, diagnosed with T2D≥12 months, spoke Danish, and had a smartphone (iOS 13+ or Android 8.0+). For each participant, 3 visits and 1 telephone call were scheduled during the 6-month study period. The DiaFocus system's acceptability and feasibility were assessed through retention rates, app usage, participant feedback, and by the CACHET Unified Method for Assessment of Clinical Feasibility (CUMACF) questionnaire. The clinical outcomes were assessed by the following questionnaires: Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Perceived Competence for Diabetes (PCDS), Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQs+c), hemoglobin A1c levels, and body weight.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 17 participants with T2D were included in the study, 15 completed the study, and data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. The median age was 68 (IQR 56-72) years, 12 (71%) were males, the median diabetes duration was 18 (IQR 11-21) years, and the median hemoglobin A1c was 59 (IQR 49-68) mmol/mol. Participants found the DiaFocus system feasible to support diabetes management despite technical problems, and they valued the ability to set focus areas. The most common focus areas were \"blood glucose\" (n=10, 59%) and \"exercise\" (n=9, 53%), but areas such as \"sleep\" and \"mood\" were also used. The CUMACF questionnaire showed that 90% (9/10) of the participants had very favorable views of how easy the system is to understand, learn, and use, and 80% (8/10) of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that the system was useful. Feedback was generally positive, indicating participants would use a refined version. Despite these findings, no statistically significant changes in clinical outcomes were observed throughout the study period using the DiaFocus system.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This pilot study d","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e63894"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12377514/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vinutha Beliyurguthu Shetty, Rachel Lim, Shaun Teo, Wayne H K Soon, Heather C Roby, Alison G Roberts, Grant J Smith, Paul A Fournier, Timothy W Jones, Elizabeth A Davis
Background: A novel mobile health (mHealth) app "acT1ve," developed using a co-design model, provides real-time support during exercise for young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the noninferiority of acT1ve compared with "treatment as usual" with regard to hypoglycemic events.
Methods: Thirty-nine participants living with T1D (age: 17.2, SD 3.3 years; HbA1c: 64, SD 6.0 mmol/mol) completed a 12-week single-arm, pre-post noninferiority study with a follow-up qualitative component. During the intervention, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and physical activity were monitored while participants used acT1ve to manage exercise. CGM data were used to assess the number of hypoglycemic events (<3.9 mmol/L for ≥15 minutes) in each phase. Using a mixed effects negative binomial regression, the difference in the rates of hypoglycemia between the preapp and app-use phases was analyzed. Participants completed both a semistructured interview and the user Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) questionnaire postintervention. All interviews were audio-recorded for transcription, and a deductive content analysis approach was used to analyze the participant interviews. The uMARS Likert scores for each subscale (engagement, functionality, esthetics, and information) were calculated and reported as medians with IQRs.
Results: The rates of hypoglycemia were similar for both the preapp and app-use phases (0.79 and 0.83 hypoglycemia events per day, respectively). The upper bound of the CI of the hypoglycemia rate ratio met the prespecified criteria for noninferiority (rate ratio=1.06; 95% CI 0.91-1.22). The uMARS analysis showed a high rating (≥4 out of 5) of acT1ve by 80% of participants for both functionality and information, 72% for esthetics, and 63% for overall uMARS rating. Content analysis of the interview transcripts identified 3 main themes: "Provision of information," "Exercising with the App," and "Targeted Population."
Conclusions: The mHealth app "acT1ve," which was developed in collaboration with young people with T1D, is functional, acceptable, and safe for diabetes management around exercise. The study supports the noninferiority of acT1ve compared with "treatment as usual" with regards to hypoglycemic events.
背景:一款新型移动健康(mHealth)应用程序“acT1ve”使用协同设计模型开发,为患有1型糖尿病(T1D)的年轻人在运动期间提供实时支持。目的:本研究旨在证明与“常规治疗”相比,acT1ve在低血糖事件方面的非劣效性。方法:39名T1D患者(年龄:17.2岁,SD 3.3岁;HbA1c: 64, SD 6.0 mmol/mol)完成了为期12周的单臂、前后非劣效性研究,并进行了随访定性研究。在干预期间,监测持续血糖监测(CGM)和身体活动,同时参与者使用acT1ve管理运动。CGM数据用于评估低血糖事件的数量(结果:应用前和应用使用阶段的低血糖发生率相似(分别为每天0.79和0.83次低血糖事件)。低血糖率比的CI上界符合预先设定的非劣效性标准(率比=1.06;95% CI 0.91-1.22)。uMARS分析显示,80%的参与者对acT1ve的功能和信息评分较高(≥4 / 5),72%的参与者对美学评分较高,63%的参与者对总体uMARS评分较高。对访谈记录的内容分析确定了三个主要主题:“提供信息”、“用App锻炼”和“目标人群”。结论:移动健康应用程序“acT1ve”是与患有T1D的年轻人合作开发的,对于糖尿病的运动管理来说是功能性的、可接受的和安全的。该研究支持acT1ve与“常规治疗”相比在低血糖事件方面的非劣效性。
{"title":"A Novel Mobile Health App to Educate and Empower Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes to Exercise Safely: Prospective Single-Arm Pre-Post Noninferiority Clinical Trial.","authors":"Vinutha Beliyurguthu Shetty, Rachel Lim, Shaun Teo, Wayne H K Soon, Heather C Roby, Alison G Roberts, Grant J Smith, Paul A Fournier, Timothy W Jones, Elizabeth A Davis","doi":"10.2196/68694","DOIUrl":"10.2196/68694","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A novel mobile health (mHealth) app \"acT1ve,\" developed using a co-design model, provides real-time support during exercise for young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to demonstrate the noninferiority of acT1ve compared with \"treatment as usual\" with regard to hypoglycemic events.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-nine participants living with T1D (age: 17.2, SD 3.3 years; HbA1c: 64, SD 6.0 mmol/mol) completed a 12-week single-arm, pre-post noninferiority study with a follow-up qualitative component. During the intervention, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and physical activity were monitored while participants used acT1ve to manage exercise. CGM data were used to assess the number of hypoglycemic events (<3.9 mmol/L for ≥15 minutes) in each phase. Using a mixed effects negative binomial regression, the difference in the rates of hypoglycemia between the preapp and app-use phases was analyzed. Participants completed both a semistructured interview and the user Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) questionnaire postintervention. All interviews were audio-recorded for transcription, and a deductive content analysis approach was used to analyze the participant interviews. The uMARS Likert scores for each subscale (engagement, functionality, esthetics, and information) were calculated and reported as medians with IQRs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The rates of hypoglycemia were similar for both the preapp and app-use phases (0.79 and 0.83 hypoglycemia events per day, respectively). The upper bound of the CI of the hypoglycemia rate ratio met the prespecified criteria for noninferiority (rate ratio=1.06; 95% CI 0.91-1.22). The uMARS analysis showed a high rating (≥4 out of 5) of acT1ve by 80% of participants for both functionality and information, 72% for esthetics, and 63% for overall uMARS rating. Content analysis of the interview transcripts identified 3 main themes: \"Provision of information,\" \"Exercising with the App,\" and \"Targeted Population.\"</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The mHealth app \"acT1ve,\" which was developed in collaboration with young people with T1D, is functional, acceptable, and safe for diabetes management around exercise. The study supports the noninferiority of acT1ve compared with \"treatment as usual\" with regards to hypoglycemic events.</p>","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e68694"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12373410/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ida Ayu Made Kshanti, Nadya Magfira, Anak Agung Arie Widyastuti, Jerry Nasarudin, Marina Epriliawati, Md Ikhsan Mokoagow
Background: Insulin therapy is crucial for type 2 diabetes mellitus management, with increasing usage in Indonesia, and its effectiveness is well-established. However, prescribing insulin poses various challenges that can impact the effectiveness of insulin. Patient education is crucial for the successful implementation of insulin therapy. Proper insulin use remains insufficient in Indonesia.
Objective: This study seeks to investigate physicians' knowledge and practice in providing education on insulin use to type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Indonesia.
Methods: This study recruited potential participants (all physicians in Indonesia) through the Internet using a convenience sampling method. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire had 32 questions divided into 4 sections, comprising demographics and clinical practice, practice of insulin education, Indonesian insulin injection technique guideline, and knowledge of insulin injection technique. The instrument used in this study was developed based on the Pedoman Teknik Menyuntik Insulin Indonesia (PTMII), which was adapted from the international consensus by the Forum for Injection Technique and Therapy Expert Recommendations (FITTER). The survey lasted from February to March 2021. Data was analysed using Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: A total of 823 participants were included in the analysis. A total of 680 out of 823 participants (82.6%) had given insulin education to patients at least once during the last 30 days. However, only 479 out of 823 participants (58.2%) used specific guidelines in their practice, with only 280 out of 823 participants (34.0%) aware of the Indonesian guidelines. Eight hundred and fifteen out of 823 participants (99.0%) agreed that insulin injection techniques would affect clinical results. The median score of knowledge about insulin injection techniques was 7 (interquartile range 2) among the study participants, indicating good knowledge. The profession was the only statistically significant variable associated with knowledge scores, with the highest median score held by consultants in endocrinology, metabolism & diabetes, and the lowest by other doctors (P <.001).
Conclusions: Most physicians in this study had given education to their patients. However, there was still a gap between the guidelines and the practice of insulin education, as shown by the lack of awareness and a fair level of knowledge about the Indonesian guidelines.
Clinicaltrial:
背景:胰岛素治疗对2型糖尿病的治疗至关重要,在印度尼西亚的使用越来越多,其有效性是公认的。然而,处方胰岛素带来了各种各样的挑战,可能会影响胰岛素的有效性。患者教育对于胰岛素治疗的成功实施至关重要。在印度尼西亚,适当的胰岛素使用仍然不足。目的:本研究旨在了解印尼医生对2型糖尿病患者进行胰岛素使用教育的知识和实践情况。方法:本研究采用方便抽样的方法,通过互联网招募潜在的参与者(印度尼西亚的所有医生)。参与者被要求填写一份问卷。问卷共32题,分为人口统计学与临床实践、胰岛素教育实践、印尼胰岛素注射技术指南、胰岛素注射技术知识4个部分。本研究中使用的仪器是根据印尼Pedoman Teknik Menyuntik胰岛素(PTMII)开发的,该仪器是根据注射技术和治疗专家建议论坛(FITTER)的国际共识改编的。该调查从2021年2月持续到3月。使用Kruskal-Wallis试验分析数据。结果:共纳入823名参与者。823名参与者中,共有680名(82.6%)在过去30天内对患者进行了至少一次胰岛素教育。然而,823名参与者中只有479人(58.2%)在实践中使用了具体的指导方针,823名参与者中只有280人(34.0%)知道印度尼西亚的指导方针。823名参与者中有815人(99.0%)同意胰岛素注射技术会影响临床结果。研究参与者对胰岛素注射技术知识的中位数得分为7分(四分位差为2),表明知识水平较高。专业是唯一与知识得分相关的有统计学意义的变量,内分泌科、代谢科和糖尿病科的咨询员的中位数得分最高,其他医生的中位数得分最低(P结论:本研究中大多数医生对患者进行了教育。然而,指南与胰岛素教育的实践之间仍然存在差距,这表现在缺乏对印度尼西亚指南的认识和相当程度的知识。临床试验:
{"title":"Insulin injection technique education and associated factors of knowledge: A cross-sectional survey on knowledge and practice of insulin injection technique education among physicians in Indonesia.","authors":"Ida Ayu Made Kshanti, Nadya Magfira, Anak Agung Arie Widyastuti, Jerry Nasarudin, Marina Epriliawati, Md Ikhsan Mokoagow","doi":"10.2196/65359","DOIUrl":"10.2196/65359","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Insulin therapy is crucial for type 2 diabetes mellitus management, with increasing usage in Indonesia, and its effectiveness is well-established. However, prescribing insulin poses various challenges that can impact the effectiveness of insulin. Patient education is crucial for the successful implementation of insulin therapy. Proper insulin use remains insufficient in Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study seeks to investigate physicians' knowledge and practice in providing education on insulin use to type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study recruited potential participants (all physicians in Indonesia) through the Internet using a convenience sampling method. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire had 32 questions divided into 4 sections, comprising demographics and clinical practice, practice of insulin education, Indonesian insulin injection technique guideline, and knowledge of insulin injection technique. The instrument used in this study was developed based on the Pedoman Teknik Menyuntik Insulin Indonesia (PTMII), which was adapted from the international consensus by the Forum for Injection Technique and Therapy Expert Recommendations (FITTER). The survey lasted from February to March 2021. Data was analysed using Kruskal-Wallis tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 823 participants were included in the analysis. A total of 680 out of 823 participants (82.6%) had given insulin education to patients at least once during the last 30 days. However, only 479 out of 823 participants (58.2%) used specific guidelines in their practice, with only 280 out of 823 participants (34.0%) aware of the Indonesian guidelines. Eight hundred and fifteen out of 823 participants (99.0%) agreed that insulin injection techniques would affect clinical results. The median score of knowledge about insulin injection techniques was 7 (interquartile range 2) among the study participants, indicating good knowledge. The profession was the only statistically significant variable associated with knowledge scores, with the highest median score held by consultants in endocrinology, metabolism & diabetes, and the lowest by other doctors (P <.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most physicians in this study had given education to their patients. However, there was still a gap between the guidelines and the practice of insulin education, as shown by the lack of awareness and a fair level of knowledge about the Indonesian guidelines.</p><p><strong>Clinicaltrial: </strong></p>","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145001932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition requiring effective self-management to maintain glycemic control and prevent complications. Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer potential solutions by providing real-time monitoring, personalized feedback, and educational resources. However, their long-term adoption is hindered by a lack of user involvement in the development process and insufficient cultural adaptation. This study aims to explore the perspectives of patients with DM in Hong Kong on the functionalities and features of mHealth apps, highlighting the importance of tailoring these apps to meet local cultural needs.
Objective: The objective of this study is to understand the views of patients with DM on the development of mHealth apps and the demand for app functions in order to provide a basis for the development of DM prevention apps.
Methods: This descriptive qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 patients with DM attending a District Health Centre in Hong Kong in May 2024, using a purposive sampling strategy. The transcribed data were analyzed by the inductive content analytical method, and themes were extracted with the aid of NVivo (version 15.0; QSR International) software.
Results: In total, 7 key themes were identified: accurate information resources, automatic tracking and monitoring of health metrics, reminders, personalized customization options, intuitive usability, efficient data-sharing capabilities, and interactive design. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of cultural adaptation and the potential of artificial intelligence-enabled mHealth apps to enhance personalized information delivery. Ensuring the credibility and professionalism of information sources is also essential.
Conclusions: The results provide valuable insights for enhancing the self-management capabilities of patients with DM and inform the future development of mHealth apps focused on DM prevention.
{"title":"Exploring Desired Features of Mobile Health Apps for Patients With Diabetes to Enhance Engagement and Self-Management: Qualitative Study.","authors":"Arkers Kwan Ching Wong, Ying Nan, Bing Xiang Yang, Yanqun Liu","doi":"10.2196/69176","DOIUrl":"10.2196/69176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition requiring effective self-management to maintain glycemic control and prevent complications. Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer potential solutions by providing real-time monitoring, personalized feedback, and educational resources. However, their long-term adoption is hindered by a lack of user involvement in the development process and insufficient cultural adaptation. This study aims to explore the perspectives of patients with DM in Hong Kong on the functionalities and features of mHealth apps, highlighting the importance of tailoring these apps to meet local cultural needs.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective of this study is to understand the views of patients with DM on the development of mHealth apps and the demand for app functions in order to provide a basis for the development of DM prevention apps.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 patients with DM attending a District Health Centre in Hong Kong in May 2024, using a purposive sampling strategy. The transcribed data were analyzed by the inductive content analytical method, and themes were extracted with the aid of NVivo (version 15.0; QSR International) software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 7 key themes were identified: accurate information resources, automatic tracking and monitoring of health metrics, reminders, personalized customization options, intuitive usability, efficient data-sharing capabilities, and interactive design. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of cultural adaptation and the potential of artificial intelligence-enabled mHealth apps to enhance personalized information delivery. Ensuring the credibility and professionalism of information sources is also essential.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results provide valuable insights for enhancing the self-management capabilities of patients with DM and inform the future development of mHealth apps focused on DM prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e69176"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12352858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144857021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Catherine Knight-Agarwal, Mary Bushell, Mary-Ellen Hooper, Natasha JoJo, Marjorie Atchan, Alison Shield, Angela Douglas, Abu Saleh, Masoud Mohammadian, Irfan Khan, Cheuk Chan, Nico Rovira Iturrieta, Emily Murphy, Tanishta Arza, Deborah Davis
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a type of blood glucose intolerance or hyperglycemia that occurs during pregnancy, is a common condition increasing in prevalence both globally and in Australia. Mobile health apps have been shown to be a useful resource for women with type 1 diabetes and could successfully contribute to GDM management by facilitating healthy behaviors.
Objective: This study aimed to seek the perspectives of health care consumers (HCCs) and health professionals (HPs) regarding the development of a smartphone app for women living with GDM.
Methods: A co-design process with 4 distinct phases underpinned the development of SugarMumma. Phase 1 involved a nonsystematic literature search followed by the creation of an app functions wish list. In phase 2, semistructured interviews with HCCs and HPs were undertaken and then thematically analyzed. In phase 3, a prototype was designed based on social cognitive theory and stakeholder recommendations. Agile project management methodology was used, followed by "user acceptance testing." During phase 4, a second round of individual interviews was undertaken with HCCs and HPs. The same qualitative methods outlined in phase 2 were used.
Results: In phase 2, individual and didactic interviews were undertaken with HCCs (n=2) and HPs (n=6). Two overarching themes encompassing recommendations for app development emerged: (1) functionality and (2) individualized care. SugarMumma was created in phase 3. Phase 4 involved a second round of individual interviews with HCCs (n=1) and HPs (n=5), resulting in the final theme (3) future directions.
Conclusions: With increasing numbers of people using smartphones, mobile health apps can help manage chronic conditions such as GDM. SugarMumma was designed following extensive stakeholder input. Good functionality, regular notifications, appealing visual aids, positive feedback, relevant dietary advice, and exporting information to HPs are important features to include.
{"title":"Development of a Smartphone App for Women Living With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Qualitative Study.","authors":"Catherine Knight-Agarwal, Mary Bushell, Mary-Ellen Hooper, Natasha JoJo, Marjorie Atchan, Alison Shield, Angela Douglas, Abu Saleh, Masoud Mohammadian, Irfan Khan, Cheuk Chan, Nico Rovira Iturrieta, Emily Murphy, Tanishta Arza, Deborah Davis","doi":"10.2196/65328","DOIUrl":"10.2196/65328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a type of blood glucose intolerance or hyperglycemia that occurs during pregnancy, is a common condition increasing in prevalence both globally and in Australia. Mobile health apps have been shown to be a useful resource for women with type 1 diabetes and could successfully contribute to GDM management by facilitating healthy behaviors.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to seek the perspectives of health care consumers (HCCs) and health professionals (HPs) regarding the development of a smartphone app for women living with GDM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A co-design process with 4 distinct phases underpinned the development of SugarMumma. Phase 1 involved a nonsystematic literature search followed by the creation of an app functions wish list. In phase 2, semistructured interviews with HCCs and HPs were undertaken and then thematically analyzed. In phase 3, a prototype was designed based on social cognitive theory and stakeholder recommendations. Agile project management methodology was used, followed by \"user acceptance testing.\" During phase 4, a second round of individual interviews was undertaken with HCCs and HPs. The same qualitative methods outlined in phase 2 were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In phase 2, individual and didactic interviews were undertaken with HCCs (n=2) and HPs (n=6). Two overarching themes encompassing recommendations for app development emerged: (1) functionality and (2) individualized care. SugarMumma was created in phase 3. Phase 4 involved a second round of individual interviews with HCCs (n=1) and HPs (n=5), resulting in the final theme (3) future directions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>With increasing numbers of people using smartphones, mobile health apps can help manage chronic conditions such as GDM. SugarMumma was designed following extensive stakeholder input. Good functionality, regular notifications, appealing visual aids, positive feedback, relevant dietary advice, and exporting information to HPs are important features to include.</p>","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e65328"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12338752/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144823178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephanie A Noonan, Amanda L Gauld, Maria I Constantino, Margaret J McGill, Timothy L Middleton, Ian D Caterson, Luigi N Fontana, Stephen M Twigg, Ted Wu, Raaj Kishore Biswas, Jencia Wong
Background: The utility of a nurse-led telemonitoring approach (NLTA) is yet to be firmly established in diabetes management.
Objective: This study aims to examine the effect of a 12-month proactive NLTA on metabolic and psychological health indices in individuals with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to evaluate it as a new diabetes model of care.
Methods: The telemonitoring study group (TSG; n=91) comprised adults who had attended an Australian tertiary hospital diabetes center between January 2019 and March 2020. Telehealth surveillance contact with a diabetes nurse educator was subsequently maintained at approximately 3-month intervals over 12 months. Prospective surveillance measures included glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c%), weight, adherence to healthy behaviors, and patient-reported outcomes of diabetes distress, anxiety, and depression using validated instruments. Metabolic changes were compared retrospectively with a comparison group who had not received telemonitoring contact during the study period (non-TSG; n=115).
Results: The average participant age was 57.2 (SD 15) years; 63% (129/206) were male, 48% (99/206) had type 1 diabetes, 50% (104/206) had type 2 diabetes, and the mean HbA1c% was 8.1% (SD 1.4%). At the end of the 12-month study, the relative percentage reduction in unadjusted HbA1c% for the TSG cohort was significantly greater than that observed in the non-TSG cohort (4% vs 1%; P=.04). Following adjustment for baseline HbA1c%, a significant improvement in HbA1c% was observed in the TSG (P=.048) but not in the non-TSG (P=.61). TSG participants were 40% less likely (odds ratio 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7) to experience an unfavorable rise in HbA1c% compared to non-TSG participants, after adjusting for sex, age, prepandemic HbA1c%, ethnicity, diabetes type, and diabetes duration. The NLTA facilitated assessments of psychological risk, with elevated depression, anxiety and diabetes distress scores significantly increased in women and youth <30 years of age (P<.001). Increasing anxiety measures were observed in those with high baseline anxiety scores (P<.001).
Conclusions: A proactive diabetes NLTA is feasible with positive effects on glycemia and the potential to identify those at psychological risk for targeted intervention. In the context of increasing demand for diabetes-related resources, further study of an NLTA model of care is warranted.
背景:护士主导的远程监护方法(NLTA)在糖尿病管理中的应用尚未牢固确立。目的:研究新冠肺炎大流行期间,12个月主动NLTA治疗对糖尿病患者代谢和心理健康指标的影响,并评价其作为一种新的糖尿病护理模式。方法:远程监护研究组(TSG;n=91)包括在2019年1月至2020年3月期间在澳大利亚三级医院糖尿病中心就诊的成年人。随后在12个月的时间里,每隔大约3个月与糖尿病护士教育者保持远程医疗监测联系。前瞻性监测措施包括糖化血红蛋白A1c (HbA1c%)、体重、对健康行为的依从性,以及患者报告的糖尿病困扰、焦虑和抑郁的结果。回顾性比较代谢变化与研究期间未接受远程监护接触的对照组(非tsg;n = 115)。结果:参与者平均年龄为57.2岁(SD 15);63%(129/206)为男性,48%(99/206)为1型糖尿病,50%(104/206)为2型糖尿病,平均HbA1c%为8.1% (SD 1.4%)。在12个月的研究结束时,TSG组未调整HbA1c的相对下降百分比显著高于非TSG组(4% vs 1%;P = .04点)。调整基线HbA1c%后,在TSG组中观察到HbA1c%的显著改善(P= 0.048),而在非TSG组中没有(P= 0.61)。在调整性别、年龄、流行前HbA1c%、种族、糖尿病类型和糖尿病病程后,与非TSG参与者相比,TSG参与者出现HbA1c%不利升高的可能性低40%(优势比0.6,95% CI 0.5-0.7)。NLTA促进了心理风险的评估,女性和青少年的抑郁、焦虑和糖尿病困扰评分显著升高。结论:积极的糖尿病NLTA是可行的,对血糖有积极影响,并有可能识别有心理风险的人进行有针对性的干预。在对糖尿病相关资源需求不断增加的背景下,对NLTA护理模式的进一步研究是必要的。
{"title":"A Nurse-Led Telemonitoring Approach in Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Stephanie A Noonan, Amanda L Gauld, Maria I Constantino, Margaret J McGill, Timothy L Middleton, Ian D Caterson, Luigi N Fontana, Stephen M Twigg, Ted Wu, Raaj Kishore Biswas, Jencia Wong","doi":"10.2196/68214","DOIUrl":"10.2196/68214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The utility of a nurse-led telemonitoring approach (NLTA) is yet to be firmly established in diabetes management.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to examine the effect of a 12-month proactive NLTA on metabolic and psychological health indices in individuals with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to evaluate it as a new diabetes model of care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The telemonitoring study group (TSG; n=91) comprised adults who had attended an Australian tertiary hospital diabetes center between January 2019 and March 2020. Telehealth surveillance contact with a diabetes nurse educator was subsequently maintained at approximately 3-month intervals over 12 months. Prospective surveillance measures included glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c%), weight, adherence to healthy behaviors, and patient-reported outcomes of diabetes distress, anxiety, and depression using validated instruments. Metabolic changes were compared retrospectively with a comparison group who had not received telemonitoring contact during the study period (non-TSG; n=115).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average participant age was 57.2 (SD 15) years; 63% (129/206) were male, 48% (99/206) had type 1 diabetes, 50% (104/206) had type 2 diabetes, and the mean HbA1c% was 8.1% (SD 1.4%). At the end of the 12-month study, the relative percentage reduction in unadjusted HbA1c% for the TSG cohort was significantly greater than that observed in the non-TSG cohort (4% vs 1%; P=.04). Following adjustment for baseline HbA1c%, a significant improvement in HbA1c% was observed in the TSG (P=.048) but not in the non-TSG (P=.61). TSG participants were 40% less likely (odds ratio 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7) to experience an unfavorable rise in HbA1c% compared to non-TSG participants, after adjusting for sex, age, prepandemic HbA1c%, ethnicity, diabetes type, and diabetes duration. The NLTA facilitated assessments of psychological risk, with elevated depression, anxiety and diabetes distress scores significantly increased in women and youth <30 years of age (P<.001). Increasing anxiety measures were observed in those with high baseline anxiety scores (P<.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A proactive diabetes NLTA is feasible with positive effects on glycemia and the potential to identify those at psychological risk for targeted intervention. In the context of increasing demand for diabetes-related resources, further study of an NLTA model of care is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e68214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12334113/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Asad Zaman, Ali Shan Hafeez, Abdul Rafae Faisal, Muhammad Faizan, Mohammad Abdullah Humayun, Mavra Shahid, Pramod Singh, Rick Maity, Arkadeep Dhali
Background: Pneumonia is the most common respiratory tract infection among patients with diabetes, affecting individuals across all age groups and sexes.
Objective: This study aims to examine demographic trends in mortality among patients diagnosed with both diabetes mellitus (DM) and pneumonia.
Methods: Deidentified death certificate data for DM- and pneumonia-related deaths in adults aged 25 years and older from 1999 to 2022 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1,000,000 population were calculated. The Joinpoint Regression Program was used to evaluate annual percentage changes (APCs) in mortality trends, with statistical significance set at P<.05. This study adhered to the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines for reporting.
Results: Between 1999 and 2022, a total of 425,777 deaths were recorded from DM and pneumonia. The overall AAMR declined significantly (P=.001) from 98.73 in 1999 to 49.17 in 2016 (APC -4.68), and then surged to 97.66 by 2022 (APC 23.55). Men consistently experienced higher mortality than women throughout the study period. Male AAMR rose from 62.61 in 2016 to 127.05 in 2022 (APC 24.88), while female AAMR increased from 41.05 in 2017 to 75.25 in 2022 (APC 27.60). Race-based analysis demonstrated that American Indian or Alaska Native populations had the highest mortality rates among racial groups. Non-Hispanic White individuals exhibited a significant decline in AAMR (P=.002) from 89.76 in 1999 to 44.19 in 2017 (APC -4.58), followed by an increase to 83.11 by 2022 (APC 25.25). Adults aged 65 years or older bore the highest mortality burden, with rates declining steadily to 206.9 in 2017 (APC -5.15) before rising sharply to 371.3 in 2022 (APC 20.01). Nonmetropolitan areas consistently exhibited higher mortality than metropolitan areas, with particularly steep increases after 2018 (APC 64.42). Type-specific mortality revealed that type 1 DM AAMRs declined from 9.2 in 1999 to 1.4 in 2015 (APC -11.94) before rising again. By contrast, type 2 DM AAMRs surged drastically after 2017, peaking at 62.2 in 2020 (APC 58.74) before partially declining to 41.6 by 2022.
Conclusions: DM is associated with an increased risk of mortality following pneumonia, particularly among men, older adults, and American Indian populations. Strengthening health care interventions and policies is essential to curb the rising mortality trend in these at-risk groups.
{"title":"Trends in Mortality From Co-Occurring Diabetes Mellitus and Pneumonia in the United States (1999-2022): Retrospective Analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) Database.","authors":"Asad Zaman, Ali Shan Hafeez, Abdul Rafae Faisal, Muhammad Faizan, Mohammad Abdullah Humayun, Mavra Shahid, Pramod Singh, Rick Maity, Arkadeep Dhali","doi":"10.2196/78001","DOIUrl":"10.2196/78001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pneumonia is the most common respiratory tract infection among patients with diabetes, affecting individuals across all age groups and sexes.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to examine demographic trends in mortality among patients diagnosed with both diabetes mellitus (DM) and pneumonia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Deidentified death certificate data for DM- and pneumonia-related deaths in adults aged 25 years and older from 1999 to 2022 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1,000,000 population were calculated. The Joinpoint Regression Program was used to evaluate annual percentage changes (APCs) in mortality trends, with statistical significance set at P<.05. This study adhered to the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines for reporting.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 1999 and 2022, a total of 425,777 deaths were recorded from DM and pneumonia. The overall AAMR declined significantly (P=.001) from 98.73 in 1999 to 49.17 in 2016 (APC -4.68), and then surged to 97.66 by 2022 (APC 23.55). Men consistently experienced higher mortality than women throughout the study period. Male AAMR rose from 62.61 in 2016 to 127.05 in 2022 (APC 24.88), while female AAMR increased from 41.05 in 2017 to 75.25 in 2022 (APC 27.60). Race-based analysis demonstrated that American Indian or Alaska Native populations had the highest mortality rates among racial groups. Non-Hispanic White individuals exhibited a significant decline in AAMR (P=.002) from 89.76 in 1999 to 44.19 in 2017 (APC -4.58), followed by an increase to 83.11 by 2022 (APC 25.25). Adults aged 65 years or older bore the highest mortality burden, with rates declining steadily to 206.9 in 2017 (APC -5.15) before rising sharply to 371.3 in 2022 (APC 20.01). Nonmetropolitan areas consistently exhibited higher mortality than metropolitan areas, with particularly steep increases after 2018 (APC 64.42). Type-specific mortality revealed that type 1 DM AAMRs declined from 9.2 in 1999 to 1.4 in 2015 (APC -11.94) before rising again. By contrast, type 2 DM AAMRs surged drastically after 2017, peaking at 62.2 in 2020 (APC 58.74) before partially declining to 41.6 by 2022.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>DM is associated with an increased risk of mortality following pneumonia, particularly among men, older adults, and American Indian populations. Strengthening health care interventions and policies is essential to curb the rising mortality trend in these at-risk groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e78001"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12445621/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145152010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sean Coleman, Caitríona Lynch, Hemendra Worlikar, Emily Kelly, Kate Loveys, Andrew J Simpkin, Jane C Walsh, Elizabeth Broadbent, Francis M Finucane, Derek O' Keeffe
Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have shown competency in a range of areas, including clinical note taking, diagnosis, research, and emotional support. An obesity epidemic, alongside a growth in novel injectable pharmacological solutions, has put a strain on limited resources.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the use of a chatbot integrated with a digital avatar to create a "digital clinician." This was used to provide mandatory patient education for those beginning semaglutide once-weekly self-administered injections for the treatment of overweight and obesity at a national center.
Methods: A "digital clinician" with facial and vocal recognition technology was generated with a bespoke 10- to 15-minute clinician-validated tutorial. A feasibility randomized controlled noninferiority trial compared knowledge test scores, self-efficacy, consultation satisfaction, and trust levels between those using the AI-powered clinician avatar onsite and those receiving conventional semaglutide education from nursing staff. Attitudes were recorded immediately after the intervention and again at 2 weeks after the education session.
Results: A total of 43 participants were recruited, 27 to the intervention group and 16 to the control group. Patients in the "digital clinician" group were significantly more knowledgeable postconsultation (median 10, IQR 10-11 vs median 8, IQR 7-9.3; P<.001). Patients in the control group were more satisfied with their consultation (median 7, IQR 6-7 vs median 7, IQR 7-7; P<.001) and had more trust in their education provider (median 7, IQR 4.8-7 vs median 7, IQR 7-7; P<.001). There was no significant difference in reported levels of self-efficacy (P=.57). 81% (22/27) participants in the intervention group said they would use the resource in their own time.
Conclusions: Bespoke AI chatbots integrated with digital avatars to create a "digital clinician" may perform health care education in a clinical environment. They can ensure higher levels of knowledge transfer yet are not as trusted as their human counterparts. "Digital clinicians" may have the potential to aid the redistribution of resources, alleviating pressure on bariatric services and health care systems, the extent to which remains to be determined in future studies.
{"title":"\"Digital Clinicians\" Performing Obesity Medication Self-Injection Education: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Sean Coleman, Caitríona Lynch, Hemendra Worlikar, Emily Kelly, Kate Loveys, Andrew J Simpkin, Jane C Walsh, Elizabeth Broadbent, Francis M Finucane, Derek O' Keeffe","doi":"10.2196/63503","DOIUrl":"10.2196/63503","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have shown competency in a range of areas, including clinical note taking, diagnosis, research, and emotional support. An obesity epidemic, alongside a growth in novel injectable pharmacological solutions, has put a strain on limited resources.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the use of a chatbot integrated with a digital avatar to create a \"digital clinician.\" This was used to provide mandatory patient education for those beginning semaglutide once-weekly self-administered injections for the treatment of overweight and obesity at a national center.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A \"digital clinician\" with facial and vocal recognition technology was generated with a bespoke 10- to 15-minute clinician-validated tutorial. A feasibility randomized controlled noninferiority trial compared knowledge test scores, self-efficacy, consultation satisfaction, and trust levels between those using the AI-powered clinician avatar onsite and those receiving conventional semaglutide education from nursing staff. Attitudes were recorded immediately after the intervention and again at 2 weeks after the education session.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 43 participants were recruited, 27 to the intervention group and 16 to the control group. Patients in the \"digital clinician\" group were significantly more knowledgeable postconsultation (median 10, IQR 10-11 vs median 8, IQR 7-9.3; P<.001). Patients in the control group were more satisfied with their consultation (median 7, IQR 6-7 vs median 7, IQR 7-7; P<.001) and had more trust in their education provider (median 7, IQR 4.8-7 vs median 7, IQR 7-7; P<.001). There was no significant difference in reported levels of self-efficacy (P=.57). 81% (22/27) participants in the intervention group said they would use the resource in their own time.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Bespoke AI chatbots integrated with digital avatars to create a \"digital clinician\" may perform health care education in a clinical environment. They can ensure higher levels of knowledge transfer yet are not as trusted as their human counterparts. \"Digital clinicians\" may have the potential to aid the redistribution of resources, alleviating pressure on bariatric services and health care systems, the extent to which remains to be determined in future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e63503"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12309861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144755104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Veronica Swallow, Janet Horsman, Eliza Mazlan, Fiona Campbell, Reza Zaidi, Madeleine Julian, Jacob Branchflower, Jackie Martin-Kerry, Helen Monks, Astha Soni, Alison Rodriguez, Rob Julian, Paul Dimitri
<p><strong>Background: </strong>Transition to adult health care for young people and young adults (YP/YA) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) starts around 11 years of age, but transition services may not meet their needs. A combination of self-management support digital health technologies exists, but no supportive chatbots with components to help YP/YA with T1DM were identified.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the novel DigiBete Chatbot, the first user-led, developmentally appropriate, clinically approved transition chatbot for YP/YA with T1DM from four English diabetes services and (2) assess the feasibility of a future trial of the chatbot.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a prospective, multimethod, nonrandomized feasibility and acceptability study in the UK National Health Service, YP/YA with T1DM from 4 hospital diabetes clinics (2 pretransition and 2 posttransition) were enrolled in a 6-week study to test the DigiBete Chatbot. During the study, YP/YA completed web-based, validated, and standardized questionnaires at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks to evaluate quality of life and anxiety and depression, along with chatbot usability and acceptability. Qualitative interviews involving YP/YA, parents, and health care professionals explored their views on the chatbot. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and framework analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighteen YP/YA were enrolled. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 4 parents, 24 health care professionals, and 12 YP/YA. Questionnaire outputs and the emergent qualitative themes (living with T1DM, using the chatbot, and refining the chatbot) indicated that the measures are feasible to use and the chatbot is acceptable and functional. In addition, responses indicated that, with refinements that incorporate the feasibility results, the chatbot could beneficially support YP/YA during transition. Users scored the chatbot as "good" to "excellent" for being engaging, informative, and aesthetically pleasing, and they stated that they would use it again. The results suggest that, with some adaptations based on user feedback, the chatbot was feasible and acceptable among the YP/YA who enjoyed using it. Our reactive conversational agent offers content (messaging and additional multimedia resources) that is relevant for the target population and clinically approved. The DigiBete Chatbot addresses the identified lack of personalized and supported self-management tools available for 11-24 year olds with T1DM and other chronic conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results warrant chatbot refinement and further investigation in a full trial to augment it prior to its wider clinical use. Our research design and methodology could also be transferred to using chatbots for other long-term conditions. On the premise of this feasibility study, the plan is to rebuild the DigiBete Chatbot to meet identified user needs and prefere
{"title":"DigiBete, a Novel Chatbot to Support Transition to Adult Care of Young People/Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Outcomes From a Prospective, Multimethod, Nonrandomized Feasibility and Acceptability Study.","authors":"Veronica Swallow, Janet Horsman, Eliza Mazlan, Fiona Campbell, Reza Zaidi, Madeleine Julian, Jacob Branchflower, Jackie Martin-Kerry, Helen Monks, Astha Soni, Alison Rodriguez, Rob Julian, Paul Dimitri","doi":"10.2196/74032","DOIUrl":"10.2196/74032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Transition to adult health care for young people and young adults (YP/YA) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) starts around 11 years of age, but transition services may not meet their needs. A combination of self-management support digital health technologies exists, but no supportive chatbots with components to help YP/YA with T1DM were identified.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the novel DigiBete Chatbot, the first user-led, developmentally appropriate, clinically approved transition chatbot for YP/YA with T1DM from four English diabetes services and (2) assess the feasibility of a future trial of the chatbot.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a prospective, multimethod, nonrandomized feasibility and acceptability study in the UK National Health Service, YP/YA with T1DM from 4 hospital diabetes clinics (2 pretransition and 2 posttransition) were enrolled in a 6-week study to test the DigiBete Chatbot. During the study, YP/YA completed web-based, validated, and standardized questionnaires at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks to evaluate quality of life and anxiety and depression, along with chatbot usability and acceptability. Qualitative interviews involving YP/YA, parents, and health care professionals explored their views on the chatbot. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and framework analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighteen YP/YA were enrolled. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 4 parents, 24 health care professionals, and 12 YP/YA. Questionnaire outputs and the emergent qualitative themes (living with T1DM, using the chatbot, and refining the chatbot) indicated that the measures are feasible to use and the chatbot is acceptable and functional. In addition, responses indicated that, with refinements that incorporate the feasibility results, the chatbot could beneficially support YP/YA during transition. Users scored the chatbot as \"good\" to \"excellent\" for being engaging, informative, and aesthetically pleasing, and they stated that they would use it again. The results suggest that, with some adaptations based on user feedback, the chatbot was feasible and acceptable among the YP/YA who enjoyed using it. Our reactive conversational agent offers content (messaging and additional multimedia resources) that is relevant for the target population and clinically approved. The DigiBete Chatbot addresses the identified lack of personalized and supported self-management tools available for 11-24 year olds with T1DM and other chronic conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results warrant chatbot refinement and further investigation in a full trial to augment it prior to its wider clinical use. Our research design and methodology could also be transferred to using chatbots for other long-term conditions. On the premise of this feasibility study, the plan is to rebuild the DigiBete Chatbot to meet identified user needs and prefere","PeriodicalId":52371,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Diabetes","volume":"10 ","pages":"e74032"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12309419/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144692312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}