Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36197724›Full record

ArticleJMIR diabetes2022

Exploring the Experiences and Perspectives of Insulin Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes via Web-Based UK Diabetes Health Forums: Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Threads.

Maya Allen-Taylor, Laura Ryan, Kirsty Winkley, Rebecca Upsher

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR diabetes, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.1field-weighted citation impact, top 50% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Maya Allen-TaylorFlorence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3847-1356
Laura RyanInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0207-1964
Kirsty WinkleyFlorence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1725-6040
Rebecca UpsherInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0881-8654
King's College London · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the advent of type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission strategies and novel therapeutic agents, many individuals with T2D will require insulin treatment to achieve target glycemia, with the aim of preventing or delaying diabetes complications. However, insulin refusal and cessation of treatment in this group are common, and their needs are underreported and relatively unexplored.

objectiveThis study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of individuals with T2D for whom insulin therapy is indicated as expressed on web-based health forums, in order to inform the development of evidence-based structured educational and support strategies and improve health care provider awareness.

methodsRetrospective archived forum threads from the 2 largest, freely and publicly accessible diabetes health forums in the United Kingdom were screened over a 12-month period (August 2019-2020). The Diabetes UK and Diabetes.co.uk forums were searched for relevant threads. A total of 3 independent researchers analyzed the forum threads and posts via thematic analysis. Pertinent themes were identified and illustrated by paraphrasing members' quotes to ensure anonymity. A total of 299 posts from 29 threads from Diabetes UK and 295 posts from 28 threads Diabetes.co.uk were analyzed over the study period. In all, 57 threads met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis.

resultsFour overarching themes were generated to illustrate the unmet needs that prompted members to seek information, advice, and support regarding insulin therapy outside of their usual care provision via the forums: empowerment through sharing self-management strategies, seeking and providing extended lifestyle advice, relationships with health care professionals, and a source of psychological peer support.

conclusionsThis is the first study to collect data from web-based health forums to characterize the experiences and perspectives of people with T2D for whom insulin therapy is indicated. The observed naturalistic conversations have generated useful insights; our findings suggest that there are significant unmet self-management and psychological needs within this group that are not being met elsewhere, prompting the seeking of information and support on the web. These include practical aspects such as insulin injection technique, storage and dose titration, driving and travel considerations, the emerging use of technology, and a strong interest in the effects of extended lifestyle (diet and activity) approaches to support insulin therapy. In addition, problematic relationships with health care professionals appear to be a barrier to effective insulin therapy for some. In contrast, seeking and offering mutually beneficial, practical, and psychological support from peers was viewed as enabling. The study results will help to directly inform insulin-focused self-management and support strategies to enable individuals in this group to achieve their best outcomes.

Indexed as

adultsinsulininternetqualitativetype 2 diabetesweb-based

Identifiers

PMID36197724
PMCPMC9582920
OpenAlexW4285333922

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.