The diabetes annual review in a postal box: a qualitative study exploring the views of people living with diabetes (DiaBox-Qual)
The diabetes annual review in a postal box: a qualitative study exploring the views of people living with diabetes (DiaBox-Qual)
Aim: the diabetes annual review is an important part of clinical care. Non-attendance is increasingly common and associated with poor health outcomes. At-home self-collection of blood tests, urine samples and anthropometric data through a postal box may facilitate engagement. We aimed to explore the views of people living with diabetes on the use of a postal box as an alternative to usual care for self-collecting blood samples, urine samples and anthropometric data and to understand whether the availability of a postal box would facilitate the uptake of the diabetes annual review.
Methods: we conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with adults who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Purposive sampling was used to obtain a high representation of infrequent attendees of annual review appointments within the study population. Transcripts were collated and analysed thematically.
Results: twenty participants took part including eight infrequent attendees. All infrequent attendees and most regular attendees responded positively to a postal box, with convenience being the most prominent value described. Concerns raised related to capability of self-collection and the accuracy of results. Participants were asked for suggestions to improve the postal box. The most common themes related to communication; needing clearer information about each test in the postal box; feedback of results; and utilising the box to communicate priorities for discussion at future consultations.
Conclusion: postal boxes for annual reviews were well-received by those living with diabetes. Designed well, they have the potential to overcome more than just the physical barriers to annual review attendance.
adherence, care delivery, methods, qualitative, self-management, service provision
Colley, Jack
970f42c8-e72d-4a97-9063-71d84c55696f
Hughes, Stephanie
a6d39500-67ff-4d7a-a1dc-8e42f80945ff
Dambha‐miller, Hajira
58961db5-31aa-460e-9394-08590c4b7ba1
Price, Hermione
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21 October 2024
Colley, Jack
970f42c8-e72d-4a97-9063-71d84c55696f
Hughes, Stephanie
a6d39500-67ff-4d7a-a1dc-8e42f80945ff
Dambha‐miller, Hajira
58961db5-31aa-460e-9394-08590c4b7ba1
Price, Hermione
2d0a0ee9-39fe-4723-92c9-bacfe2dffc94
Colley, Jack, Hughes, Stephanie, Dambha‐miller, Hajira and Price, Hermione
(2024)
The diabetes annual review in a postal box: a qualitative study exploring the views of people living with diabetes (DiaBox-Qual).
Diabetic Medicine.
(doi:10.1111/dme.15445).
Abstract
Aim: the diabetes annual review is an important part of clinical care. Non-attendance is increasingly common and associated with poor health outcomes. At-home self-collection of blood tests, urine samples and anthropometric data through a postal box may facilitate engagement. We aimed to explore the views of people living with diabetes on the use of a postal box as an alternative to usual care for self-collecting blood samples, urine samples and anthropometric data and to understand whether the availability of a postal box would facilitate the uptake of the diabetes annual review.
Methods: we conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with adults who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Purposive sampling was used to obtain a high representation of infrequent attendees of annual review appointments within the study population. Transcripts were collated and analysed thematically.
Results: twenty participants took part including eight infrequent attendees. All infrequent attendees and most regular attendees responded positively to a postal box, with convenience being the most prominent value described. Concerns raised related to capability of self-collection and the accuracy of results. Participants were asked for suggestions to improve the postal box. The most common themes related to communication; needing clearer information about each test in the postal box; feedback of results; and utilising the box to communicate priorities for discussion at future consultations.
Conclusion: postal boxes for annual reviews were well-received by those living with diabetes. Designed well, they have the potential to overcome more than just the physical barriers to annual review attendance.
Text
DiaBox-Qual J Colley FINAL 18.11.24
- Accepted Manuscript
Restricted to Repository staff only until 21 October 2025.
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Accepted/In Press date: 19 September 2024
Published date: 21 October 2024
Keywords:
adherence, care delivery, methods, qualitative, self-management, service provision
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 495759
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/495759
ISSN: 1464-5491
PURE UUID: 88c9b4b5-4b71-4ca8-8f1c-c28260a59381
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Date deposited: 21 Nov 2024 17:51
Last modified: 22 Nov 2024 02:57
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Author:
Jack Colley
Author:
Hermione Price
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