Information and decision support needs in patients with type 2 diabetes

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Communication
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus presents a significant and growing global health challenge.
• The internet serves as a crucial resource for health information and support for individuals with diabetes.
• Understanding patient needs is vital for developing effective digital health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the characteristics, information needs, and decision support requirements of patients with type 2 diabetes.
• To inform the development of an Interactive Health Communication Application tailored to patient needs.
• To identify key areas for online health information and decision support.

Main Methods:

• A two-step needs assessment involving semi-structured interviews with patients and physicians.
• Development and administration of a self-assessment questionnaire to a larger sample of type 2 diabetes patients (N=178).
• Descriptive data analysis of questionnaire responses covering internet use, diabetes knowledge, decision-making, and information needs.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of patients (61.7%) use the internet for health information, with many accessing it monthly.
• Diabetes knowledge among respondents was generally low, with only 1.9% answering all knowledge questions correctly.
• Key information needs focused on diabetes complications, blood glucose control, and basic diabetes information, with insulin treatment being a particularly difficult decision.

Conclusions:

• The internet is a viable channel for reaching individuals with type 2 diabetes.
• The heterogeneity in patient knowledge necessitates personalized content in digital health applications.
• Future applications should address specific information gaps, particularly concerning insulin therapy, and support shared decision-making.