'Is insulin right for me?': Feasibility of a pilot randomised controlled trial and acceptability of a web-based intervention to reduce psychological barriers to insulin therapy among adults with type 2 diabetes

Patient Portals as Facilitators of Engagement in Patients With Diabetes and Chronic Heart Disease: Scoping Review of Usage and Usability

BACKGROUND

Patient portals have the potential to improve care for chronically ill patients by engaging them in their treatment. These platforms can work, for example, as a standalone self-management intervention or a tethered link to treatment providers in routine care. Many different types of portals are available for different patient groups, providing various features.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aims to summarize the current literature on patient portals for patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic heart disease regarding usage behavior and usability.

METHODS

We conducted this review according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement for scoping reviews. We performed database searches using PubMed, PsycInfo, and CINAHL, as well as additional searches in reviews and reference lists. We restricted our search to 2010. Qualitative and quantitative studies, and studies using both approaches that analyzed usage behavior or usability of patient portals were eligible. We mapped portal features according to broad thematic categories and summarized the results of the included studies separately according to outcome and research design.

RESULTS

After screening, we finally included 85 studies. Most studies were about patients with diabetes, included patients younger than 65 years, and were conducted in the United States. Portal features were categorized into educational/general information, reminder, monitoring, interactivity, personal health information, electronic/personal health record, and communication. Portals mostly provided educational, monitoring, and communication-related features. Studies reported on usage behavior including associated variables, usability dimensions, and suggestions for improvement. Various ways of reporting usage frequency were identified. A noticeable decline in portal usage over time was reported frequently. Age was most frequently studied in association with portal use, followed by gender, education, and eHealth literacy. Younger age and higher education were often associated with higher portal use. In two-thirds of studies reporting on portal usability, the portals were rated as user friendly and comprehensible, although measurement and reporting were heterogeneous. Portals were considered helpful for self-management through positive influences on motivation, health awareness, and behavioral changes. Helpful features for self-management were educational/general information and monitoring. Barriers to portal use were general (eg, aspects of design or general usability), related to specific situations during portal use (eg, login procedure), or not portal specific (eg, user skills and preferences). Frequent themes were aspects of design, usability, and technology. Suggestions for improvement were mainly related to technical issues and need for support.

CONCLUSIONS

The current state of research emphasizes the importance of involving patients in the development and evaluation of patient portals. The consideration of various research designs in a scoping review is helpful for a deeper understanding of usage behavior and usability. Future research should focus on the role of disease burden, and usage behavior and usability among older patients.

The experiences of insulin use among older people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A thematic synthesis

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is common in older people. Managing diabetes in older people can be challenging due to comorbidities and age-related disabilities, particularly in the context of insulin therapy. The purpose of this review is to explore older people's experiences of insulin use and to consider how these experiences might inform healthcare delivery.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic review with thematic synthesis was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA and ENTREQ statements. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Web of Science were searched from 1985 to September 2019 with subsequent updates in December 2019 and June 2022. Included studies were quality appraised, findings tabulated, and results used to inform an integrated thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies that reported insulin experiences with 274 patients aged 60 years and over were included; nine of the studies were qualitative and five used questionnaires surveys. Seven themes emerged that were grouped into treatment-related factors (physical impact of insulin, physical capacity to administer insulin, insulin self-management behaviours) and person-centred factors (emotional factors, social factors, daily living, and personal knowledge/beliefs). Three analytical themes to guide clinical practice were derived from the data: addressing physical capacity and ability, supporting social and emotional issues and improving interactions with healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSION

The review indicates issues surrounding the technical aspects of insulin administration, side effects of treatment and reactions to insulin administration are common amongst older people. However, research evidence is limited, and there is an urgent need for empirical, participatory research with older insulin dependent adults with type 2 diabetes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Healthcare professionals need to ensure that older type 2 diabetes people on insulin are actively involved in their own care, to allow their insulin regimens to be personalised and aligned with their goals and expectations. Tailored educational interventions to reduce treatment hazards and promote physical and psychological wellbeing are also needed for this population.

Web-based intervention to reduce psychological barriers to insulin therapy among adults with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes: study protocol for a two-armed randomised controlled trial of 'Is insulin right for me?'

INTRODUCTION

Psychological barriers to insulin therapy are associated with the delay of clinically indicated treatment intensification for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet few evidence-based interventions exist to address these barriers. We describe the protocol for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) examining the efficacy of a novel, theoretically grounded, psychoeducational, web-based resource designed to reduce psychological barriers to insulin among adults with non-insulin treated T2D: 'Is insulin right for me?'.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Double-blind, parallel group RCT. A target sample of N=392 participants (n=196/arm) will be randomised (1:1) to 'Is insulin right for me?' (intervention) or widely available online resources (control). Eligible participants include adults (18-75 years), residing in Australia, currently taking oral hypoglycaemic agents to manage T2D. They will be primarily recruited via invitations and reminders from the national diabetes registry (from a purposefully selected sample of N≥12 000).

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

experience of self-administered injectable; previously enrolled in pilot RCT; 'very willing' to start insulin as baseline. Outcomes will be assessed via online survey at 2 weeks and 6 months. Primary outcome between-group: difference in mean negative Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scores (ITAS negative) at 2-week and 6-month follow-up.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

between-group differences in mean positive insulin appraisals (ITAS positive) and percentage difference in intention to commence insulin at follow-up time points. All data analyses will be conducted according to the intention-to-treat principle.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-073). Dissemination via peer-reviewed journals, conferences and a plain-language summary.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12621000191897; Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.