JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Chronic diseases, such as diabetes type 1 and 2, asthma, and COPD, demand long-term treatment and permanent adaptation. One important pillar in coping with these diseases is individuals’ self-management, also with the support of digital media. Research on their effects confirms their potential. However, it is flawed by theoretical underdevelopment and methodological weaknesses, such as the focus on short-term effects, single digital features, and micro-level studies.

Objective:

The Research Unit (RU) DISELMA (“Digital Media in Chronic Disease Self-Management”) strives to examine the continued use patterns and effects of the digital self-management of chronic diseases as well as the role of the interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels to gain a comprehensive picture of the individual processes, their contextual embeddedness, and cross-level interactions.

Methods:

To fully capture the manifold multi-level influences, the RU comprises six individual projects (IPs), each of which conducts several studies. Two projects at the individual level analyze determinants of use, usage patterns, and effects of digital media, combining systematic reviews, experience sampling studies (ESM), focus groups, panel surveys, and a content analysis of applications used. Two projects aim to examine the interpersonal context by analyzing the role of healthcare providers and the diffusion of health-related digital media in informal networks conducting a scoping review, online surveys with physicians, semi-structured interviews and participant observations of physician-patient dyads, patient focus groups, and interviews with peers. One project aims to analyze the role of organizations within the mHealth market by conducting content analyses of key organizational messages and a survey. Finally, one project analyzes journalistic and social media content to gain insight into the discourses about digital chronic disease self-management on the societal level.

Results:

The RU has received funding approval by the DFG (German Research Foundation – 456132969) in 07/2023, the 4-year-funding period ranges from 12/2023 to 11/2027. IP1 is currently conducting its systematic reviews and ESM-studies, both to be finalized in 2026. IP2 is conducting its systematic review and meta-analysis alongside panel surveys until 06/2026. IP3 completed its online survey with physicians and is currently conducting observations until 08/2026. IP4 is conducting its scoping review and peer interviews through 2026, while IP5 is working on its content analysis and survey preparation, and IP6 is currently conducting its manual content analysis. First publications of the results are expected in 2026.

Conclusions:

The results will contribute to the existing research by its theoretically and methodologically comprehensive approach that improves our understanding of the processes at and between all levels. These insights will inform providers of digital health solutions and healthcare practitioners about users’ needs and expectations, advance evidence-based disease self-management programs, and contribute to better coping with chronic diseases, improved well-being of affected individuals, and reduced healthcare costs in the long-term. Clinical Trial: n/a