An ACT based smartphone app for young people with type 1 diabetes (v1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SweetSpot: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Based Smartphone Application for Young People with Type 1 Diabetes
IRAS ID
161828
Contact name
Estelle Barker
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 10 days
Research summary
SweetSpot is an ACT based smartphone (Android) application designed to improve well-being in young people with type 1 diabetes.
Why
Evidence indicates that during adolescence and young adulthood coping with type 1 diabetes can prove difficult which can cause substantial health risks. There are significant psychological challenges to successful self-management. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) shows promise as a theoretically and practically relevant intervention. The problem faced in delivering such an intervention is one of volume. A potential solution to this is to design an ACT based smartphone application to address barriers to self-management.
Who
Aged 13-22 years diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
Where
Different NHS sites across Scotland.
What
The app is based on 6 chapters with standalone sessions which has been adapted from “ACT for diabetes self-management” manual:
Chapter 1: Helps participants to identify challenges in self-management.
Chapter 2: Introduces trying different strategies to current ones participants are using to overcome challenges
Chapter 3: Helps participants to identify what’s important to them
Chapter 4: Helps participants move towards what they believe is important
Chapter 5: Looks at different areas of life including, school, university, work, socialising, family and relationships
Chapter 6: Helping participants to maintain progress
The app will include graphics, videos, mp3s and text. Daily requests for rating nutrition, physical activity and glucose levels with psychological questionnaires repeated 4, 8 & 12 weeks.
It will be tested in 2 phases:
1- Participants will use the app for approximately one week and participate in a focus group to feedback on the user-friendliness, acceptability and feasibility. Clinicians will be requested to take part in a workshop where they can interact with the app and then feedback. Amendments will be made based on this
2- Participants will be involved in the study for a total of 12 weeks.
Data generated will not go towards any commercialisation of the app.REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
15/SS/0064
Date of REC Opinion
17 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion