Service users' experiences of, and engagement with, a nationally implemented digital diabetes prevention programme

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may be prevented by promoting weight loss through adopting healthier behaviours (e.g., improved diet and increased physical activity). In 2016, the National Health Service (NHS) in England introduced a 9-month face-to-face T2DM prevention intervention, delivered by four independent providers. Since 2019, the NHS Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS-DDPP) was offered to increase accessibility of the programme. This research aimed to understand how service users engaged with, and experienced using the NHS-DDPP.

Qualitative interviews.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with service users (n = 45) who took part in one of the four NHS-DDPP providers' programmes and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were thematically analysed using a framework approach.

Two overarching themes were produced: 'Personalized Guidance' and 'Path to Success'. Service users valued having health coach support, which provided personalized guidance throughout the programme, alongside access to different app features to suit their needs (e.g., educational content, tracking health behaviours, group support). Service users described self-monitoring, feedback from their health coach and support from their social circle as helpful towards changing their health behaviours. This enabled them to visualize their progress and provided accountability.

Service users emphasized how human contact alongside this digital behaviour change programme improved their experiences and engagement with the programme. Digital health interventions could consider how to better incorporate support from health coaches, friends and family to help users in making behavioural changes. Future digital health interventions should consider how best to harness non-digital elements to promote behaviour change.