Simulation Platform Development for Diabetes and Technology Self-Management.

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Diabetes Technology
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Specialized education is crucial for effective insulin pump management but often lacks accessibility.
• A1Control, a novel simulation platform, was developed to address this gap in diabetes self-management education.
• Limited access to training hinders optimal use of insulin pump technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability and acceptability of the A1Control simulation platform for insulin pump education.
• To identify predictors of user performance within the A1Control simulation environment.
• To assess the potential of simulation-based training for improving diabetes self-care.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods usability study involving rural adult insulin pump users with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
• Participants completed three distinct simulations: infusion site occlusion, hypoglycemia, and exercise.
• Quantitative (Net Promoter Score, Systems Usability Scale) and qualitative (interviews, observation) data were collected; predictive models were fitted using Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique.

Main Results:

• High user acceptability (mean NPS 9.5) and perceived usability (mean SUS 88.5) were reported.
• Specific metrics like continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) wear time and hypoglycemia exposure predicted successful site-occlusion simulation performance.
• Insulin bolus scores, total daily dose (TDD), and device brand predicted success in the exercise simulation.

Conclusions:

• A1Control shows promise for increasing access to and frequency of diabetes technology and self-management education.
• Simulation platforms like A1Control can potentially improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of diabetes management.
• Further research is necessary to confirm sustained engagement and long-term benefits of A1Control in diabetes care.