Improving Outcomes for Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes in Ireland

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Improving Outcomes for Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes in Ireland: The D1 Now cluster randomised pilot study

  • IRAS ID

    264852

  • Contact name

    Sean Dinneen

  • Contact email

    sean.dinneen@nuigalway.ie

  • Sponsor organisation

    NUI Galway

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Background: Traditional diabetes care methods may not be the most appropriate for supporting young adults’ self-management of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Previous research has shown that often during this period of transition, young adults are at a high risk of disengaging from services. The ‘D1 Now’ study has been developed by a research team based in NUI Galway. D1 Now includes three key components which aim to improve continuity, build relationships and increase clinic attendance. These include: 1) an agenda setting tool, 2) an interactive text- messaging system and 3) the introduction of a new staff member, the ‘Support Worker’.
    Research Aim: The aim of this study is to test if the D1 Now intervention is feasible and acceptable among young adults with T1D and Diabetes staff. In addition, results of this study will inform a large scale study of D1 Now.
    Design: This is a pilot randomised controlled trial, which is a study design where centres are randomly allocated to different ‘arms’ of the study. Each arm is offered either the D1 Now study or they are asked to continue usual practice (called the control arm). The study will last 12 months.
    Setting: The participating Diabetes centres in Dublin and Belfast.
    Participants: Participants include, young adults and Diabetes centre staff. To be eligible young adults must be aged 18-25 years and have a definite diagnosis of T1D for more than 1 year.
    Data Collection: Questionnaires measuring a number of different outcomes will be collected at the beginning and the end of the study Some participants will also be invited to a focus group to discuss their experience of the D1 Now study.
    Analysis: Results will be analysed and interpreted to understand if the D1 Now study is feasible and acceptable among young adults with T1D and diabetes centre staff.

  • REC name

    East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    19/EM/0296

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Sep 2019

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion