MARCIA A. TESTA, SERGIO SALDIVAR-SALAZAR, ELENA SAVOIA, DONALD C. SIMONSON, Boston, MA 

Psychosocial, Behavioral Medicine

Presented on Sunday, June 7, 2015 2:15 PM

Author(s):  MARCIA A. TESTA, SERGIO SALDIVAR-SALAZAR, ELENA SAVOIA, DONALD C. SIMONSON, Boston, MA 

Traditionally, brainstorming and focus groups are used to solicit patient feedback and gather input for health programs and research; however, health social networks could potentially collect such information in a less structured and artificial environment. To evaluate the feasibility of using social networks to enhance PCOR, we retrospectively tracked postings from a diabetes online community. 125 members were randomly chosen and unstructured textual data abstracted. Members were 78% T2DM and 22% T1DM, with mean ± SD diabetes duration 22.4±18.4 yrs (T1DM) and 4.4±5.2 yrs (T2DM). Membership duration (10/2009-10/2014) was 2.2±1.4 yrs. 81% of T2DM reported an initial HbA1c of 8.4±2.4%. Time since last online visit and last posting, total posts and number of peer commendations (as of 01/01/2015) were positively skewed with 25% visiting in the past wk and posting within the past 3 wks, 50% visiting within the past 4 mos and posting within the past 7 mos, and 75% visiting and posting within the past year. Median (IQR, range) total posts was 62 (184; 1-15,395), and commendations 10 (32; 0-1,714). Qualitative content analysis found 79% of T2DM reporting meds (61% metformin; 12% insulin; 10% no meds; 7% sulfonyurea; 5% DPP-4; 5% other). Major posting themes for T1DM members were: use of insulin pumps (19%); anxiety, BG control, use of CGM, hypoglycemia, symptoms (each 11%); depression, support (each 7%); and complications, daily living, and exercise (each 4%). T2DM posting themes concerned: diet and meals (16%); medications (15%); BG control (12%); diagnoses and complications (each 7%); exercise (6%); BG testing and HbA1c (each 4%); symptoms, healthcare, and daily living (each 3%); anxiety, comorbidities, hypoglycemia, insulin pumps, smoking, and support (each 2%); and CGM, insurance, pre-diabetes, pregnancy, supplements, and weight loss (each 1%). Crowdsourced observational studies can complement traditional group creativity methods for soliciting patient feedback and input for PCOR.

 Listen to Oral Presentation Web Cast

Go to ADA Website –Using Social Media Crowdsourced Data for Diabetes Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR)Speaker: Marcia A Testa Meeting: 75th Scientific Sessions

Session: Making a Difference with Behavioral Science

Testa – ADA 2015 Oral Presentation