Young people and their caregivers’ experiences of using technology to manage Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus – A Systematic Literature Review and Narrative Synthesis
ABSTRACT
Background:
In the last decade diabetes management has begun to transition to technology-based care with young people being the focus of many technological advances. Yet detailed insights into young people and their caregivers’ experiences of using technology to manage Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are lacking.
Objective:
The objective of our study was to describe the breadth of experiences and perspectives on diabetes technology use among children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and their caregivers.
Methods:
This integrated systematic review included qualitative studies reporting perspectives and experiences of young people with T1DM youth and their caregivers, quantitative descriptive studies, and studies with mixed-methods designs. Integrated thematic analysis of these studies guided a narrative synthesis.
Results:
Seventeen articles met the inclusion criteria, and included studies on insulin pump, glucose sensor, and remote monitoring systems. Eight themes were derived from the analysis: 1. expectations of the technology prior to use, 2. perceived impact on sleep and overnight experiences, 3. experiences with alarms, 4. impact on independence and relationships, 5. perceived usage impact on blood glucose control, 6. device design and features, 7. financial cost, and 8. user satisfaction. While many advantages of using diabetes technology were reported, several challenges towards its use were also reported, such as cost, the size and visibility of devices, and intrusiveness of alarms, which drew attention to the fact that the user had T1DM. Continued use of diabetes technology was underpinned by its benefits outweighing the challenges, especially among younger people.
Conclusions:
Diabetes technologies have improved the quality of life for many young people with T1DM and their caregivers. Future design needs to consider the impact of these technologies on relationships between young people and their caregivers, and the impact of features such as size, ease of use, and cost.
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