Adolescents perspectives on technology & eating in Type 1 diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the experience of glucose monitoring technology: Adolescents perspectives on technology and eating attitudes in the management of type 1 diabetes.
IRAS ID
343148
Contact name
Christian Koebbel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 20 days
Research summary
The proposed research study looks at the impact of glucose monitoring technology on eating attitudes in young people (11-19) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. (T1D). Understanding how rapidly developing technology affects one's relationship with food and eating, can allow for tailed support and treatment recommendations for patients with T1D, and increased awareness and opportunity for support for those with T1D who may be at risk of developing disordered eating. An increased understanding of the links between technology and eating attitudes for adolescents with T1D can enable us to understand who may benefit from technology, or support recommendations to technology companies, to support better wellbeing for people with T1D, particularly considering the increased recent focus nationally on Type 1 Diabetes and disordered Eating (T1DE) in all age groups.
I intend to recruit secondary school age adolescents (11 – 19) from paediatric diabetes outpatient clinics, who have a diagnosis of T1D. They must have used a particular kind of treatment monitoring technology called CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) for a minimum of 1 year. Due to the age group of participants, those aged 11-15 will additionally require parental agreement to participate in the research.
The research will run in 2 parts, using different but complimentary methods that follow on from one another. The study method has been adapted for an adolescent population. In part 1, adolescents will be asked to fill in 4 short questionnaires and demographic information (15 minutes) on a digital survey. During part 2, adolescents will be asked to take part in a research activity and task, where they will generate a series of images (photos or drawings) to describe their experience of using CGM and then discuss them with the primary researcher (a 20 minute phone/video call, then 2 weeks later a 60 minute face to face or online video meeting).
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0725
Date of REC Opinion
23 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion