Web-Based Research Methods and Social Media: Investigating Type 2 Diabetes, Communication and Identity

2013 ◽  
pp. 15-24
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Crawford ◽  
Kay Wilhelm ◽  
Judy Proudfoot

BACKGROUND The high prevalence of diabetes distress and subclinical depression in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM, respectively) indicates the need for low-intensity self-help interventions that can be used in a stepped care approach to address some of their psychological needs. However, people with diabetes can be reluctant to engage in mental health care. Benefit-finding writing (BFW) is a brief intervention that involves writing about any positive thoughts and feelings concerning a stressful experience such as an illness, avoiding potential mental health stigma. It has been associated with increases in positive affect and positive growth and has demonstrated promising results in trials in other clinical populations. However, BFW has not been examined in people with diabetes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a Web-based BFW intervention for reducing diabetes distress and increasing benefit finding in diabetic adults with T1DM or T2DM compared to a control writing condition. METHODS Adults with T1DM or T2DM and diabetes distress were recruited online through the open access Writing for Health program. After completing baseline questionnaires, they were randomly allocated to receive online BFW or an active control condition of online writing about the use of time (CW). Both groups completed 15-minute online writing sessions, once per day, for 3 consecutive days. Online measures were administered at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention. Participants were also asked to rate their current mood immediately prior to and following each writing session. RESULTS Seventy-two adults with T1DM or T2DM were recruited and randomly allocated to receive BFW (n=24) or CW (n=48). Participants adhered to the BFW regimen. Greater increases in positive affect immediately postwriting were found in the BFW group than in the CW group. However, there were no significant group-by-time interactions (indicating intervention effects) for benefit finding or diabetes distress at either the 1-month or 3-month follow-up. Both the BFW and CW groups demonstrated small, significant decreases in diabetes distress over time. CONCLUSIONS BFW was well tolerated by adults with diabetes in this study but did not demonstrate efficacy in improving diabetes distress or benefit finding compared to an active control writing condition. However, due to recruitment difficulties, the study was underpowered and the sample was skewed to individuals with minimal diabetes distress and none to minimal depression and anxiety at baseline. Future research should continue to investigate the efficacy of variants of therapeutic writing for adults with T1DM or T2DM, using larger samples of participants with elevated diabetes distress. CLINICALTRIAL Australiand New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000241538; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=368146


JMIR Diabetes ◽  
10.2196/15744 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e15744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shoba Poduval ◽  
Louise Marston ◽  
Fiona Hamilton ◽  
Fiona Stevenson ◽  
Elizabeth Murray

Background Structured education for people with type 2 diabetes improves outcomes, but uptake is low globally. In the United Kingdom in 2016, only 8.3% of people who were referred to education programs attended the program. We have developed a Web-based structured education program named Healthy Living for People with type 2 Diabetes (HeLP-Diabetes): Starting Out (HDSO), as an alternative to face-to-face courses. A Web-based program gives people more options for accessing structured education and may help improve overall uptake. Objective The aim was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a Web-based structured education program (named HeLP-Diabetes: Starting Out) in routine primary health care and its potential impact on self-efficacy and diabetes-related distress. Methods HDSO was delivered as part of routine diabetes services in primary health care in the United Kingdom, having been commissioned by local Clinical Commissioning Groups. Quantitative data were collected on uptake, use of the program, demographic characteristics, self-reported self-efficacy, and diabetes-related distress. A subsample of people with type 2 diabetes and health care professionals were interviewed about acceptability of the program. Results It was feasible to deliver the program, but completion rates were low: of 791 people with type 2 diabetes registered, only 74 (9.0%) completed it. Completers improved their self-efficacy (change in median score 2.5, P=.001) and diabetes-related distress (change in median score 6.0, P=.001). Interview data suggested that the course was acceptable, and that uptake and completion may be related to nonprioritization of structured education. Conclusions The study provides evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of a Web-based structured education. However, uptake and completion rates were low, limiting potential population impact. Further research is needed to improve completion rates, and to determine the relative effectiveness of Web-based versus face-to-face education.


Global Heart ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e288
Author(s):  
Chiung-Jung (Jo) Wu ◽  
John Atherton ◽  
Anne Chang ◽  
Mary Courtney ◽  
Alex Clark ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Maraeh Angela Mancha ◽  
B.R.G. Marie ◽  
E.C. Ela Shyr ◽  
Racquel Tayor ◽  
Cruz ◽  
...  

Background: The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of web-based self-care management program for type 2 diabetes mellitus through sharing evidenced-based information about Diabetes through the use of a web-based module. Materials and methods: The study used the quasi-experimental pre and posttest design to determine the effectiveness of a web-based self-care management program in the management of patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM). The study was conducted in three phases and acquired 30 purposively selected type 2 DM adult patients. The study used a web-based self-care management program that included basic information about Type 2 Diabetes mellitus using three designed modules specifically for diet, exercise and drug management. Results: The patient status during the pre and post-intervention phase is an FBS reading of 152 mg/dl or diabetes stage to pre-diabetes stage (119 mg/dl), normal BMI (22), low risk for obesity WHR and barely satisfactory to satisfactory level of knowledge to diabetes and DM management. There is very significant difference (p=<000) in the pre and post FBS reading of patients and the level of knowledge to diabetes and DM management after the web based DSME while there is no significant difference in the BMI and WHR. There is very significant difference (p=<000) in the RBS readings of the patients during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd phases of the intervention of .web based DSME (p=<000) post hoc analysis with Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test revealed that there is very significant difference (p=<000) between groups. Conclusion: The use of web-based self-care management program is effective in improving FBS/RBS and level of knowledge to diabetes and DM management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus but needed longer intervention to improve BMI and WHR .Nurses as part of the DSME group and as health educator may use technology in giving health education to patients to improve patients self-management to diabetes.


2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 693-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Chan ◽  
W. So ◽  
G. Ko ◽  
P. Tong ◽  
X. Yang ◽  
...  

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