Evaluating the Patient-led roll-out of HeLP-Diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experience with a patient-led roll-out of HeLP-Diabetes and the use of engagement prompts: providers and patients perspective
IRAS ID
147989
Contact name
Elizabeth Murray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
This is a qualitative interview study, exploring the opinion and experiences of health care staff and patient volunteers in a patient-led implementation study. The intervention to be implemented is called HeLP-Diabetes (Healthy Living for People with Diabetes), which is a web-based self-management programme for people with Type 2 Diabetes. HeLP-Diabetes was developed with funding from an NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Health Research and is currently being evaluated in two studies: (1)an individually randomised controlled trial in primary care; and (2) an implementation study in North London where patients are introduced to the site by health professionals in General Practice. In addition to these two studies, the HeLP-Diabetes team were approached by Improvement Science London, which is a pan-London body, funded by the three Academic Health Science Networks of UCLP, Imperial and Kings with a view to rolling HeLP-Diabetes out across London. As part of this roll-out, the Diabetes Modernisation Intiative (DMI) decided to pilot a patient-led implementation of HeLP-Diabetes in Lambeth, whereby trained patient volunteers (recruited and trained by the DMI) will support other patients in use of HeLP-Diabetes. This patient-led roll-out led by the DMI is a new service, not research, and thus does not need ethical approval. The DMI only has funding for service delivery and is not equipped or resourced to undertake research. However, as this is an innovative idea, the UCL team were keen to evaluate it by undertaking semi-structured interviews with a sample of DMI staff, trained patient volunteers, and patients who are supported in use of HeLP-Diabetes, exploring their perceptions of the benefits and disbenefits of this patient-led approach, the resources needed to make it work effectively, and the type, frequency and content of automated prompts delivered by e.g. email, text messages or automated voice messaging to promote user engagement with the website.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0408
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion