User needs of digital technologies for gestational diabetes care

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    User needs assessment of computer-decision making digital tools for gestational diabetes care.

  • IRAS ID

    310656

  • Contact name

    Rebecca Reynolds

  • Contact email

    r.reynolds@ed.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Edinburgh

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 6 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    The aim of this study is to understand the options and acceptance of a digital tool that includes some form of computer decision making (machine learning) in gestational diabetes care, which there is a current lack of, of women who have gestational diabetes and the clinicians that care for them.
    Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is first recognised during pregnancy and usually disappears after birth. It is diagnosed with a blood test between the 24th- 28th week of pregnancy. In the UK, around 16% of pregnancies are affected. It can lead to problems for the mother and baby, including having a large baby, caesarean section, and an increase likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes after birth. The risk of complications can be reduced by blood glucose control and lifestyle changes in diet and exercise. Some women can manage their gestational diabetes by these changes alone whereas, others will need medication. Women with gestational diabetes are monitored carefully throughout pregnancy, with frequent visits to hospital.
    The study will recruit women with or have recently had gestational diabetes and their health care professionals, from Edinburgh and Glasgow clinics. Individual semi-structured interviews will be conducted that will discuss, current care and technology and the format and features of a digital tool for gestational diabetes. From the interviews an offline prototype of a digital tool will be developed, a questionnaire will then be used to assess the prototype, that will be presented to participants through screenshots and videos. The interviews will take approximately 30-60 minutes and the questionnaire 20-40 minutes.

  • REC name

    North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/NW/0164

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Jun 2022

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion