Digital Diabetes - Support for Citizens with Type 2 Diabetes

- THE PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED - 

Municipalities are finding that vulnerable citizens have difficulty managing their own somatic health problems in relation to type 2 diabetes. This group of people may find it challenging to participate in treatment and rehabilitation programs that require them to attend physically. Digital solutions eliminate the need for physical attendance, enabling new ways to support citizens in managing their health conditions.

There is currently limited knowledge about the use of digital health technologies that can support vulnerable citizens with type 2 diabetes. The project is intended to contribute to a more cohesive effort for citizens with type 2 diabetes across both psychological and somatic challenges.

Purpose

The overall aim of the project is to develop and test a digital solution for supporting the management of type 2 diabetes and promoting a healthy lifestyle among vulnerable citizens in municipal support schemes.

Objectives

• To strengthen self-management of chronic diseases and compliance in treatment and rehabilitation programs for citizens with type 2 diabetes.
• To prevent the development of type 2 diabetes among citizens in the target group who are at elevated risk, as well as to detect type 2 diabetes in the target group.

Deliverables

Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark manages the project and oversees needs assessment, workshops, and competence development. It also facilitates working groups, project and steering committee meetings, as well as cross-sector communication within the project. The Centre is also responsible for conducting internal evaluations, including organizing focus groups and surveys.

Needs Assessment

• Interviews and focus group interviews to identify the target group’s needs and technological readiness.
• Desk research to identify existing solutions for the digital support of coping with chronic illness among citizens in the target group.
•  Process analysis for pedagogical staff and health professionals who work with the citizens.

Development

• Development of a digital solution in collaboration with citizens, healthcare professionals, and a selected supplier. The solution will be developed based on digital patient education for citizens with type 2 diabetes.
• Workshops regarding citizen involvement will set learning goals and continuously test the content and design of the e-learning material from start to finish.
• The workshops will also develop local models for how workflows can support both pedagogical and health-oriented purposes.

Competence Development

A competence development program will be created to equip social pedagogical staff and health professionals with the tools to:

• Detect citizens at risk for type 2 diabetes and encourage them to seek examination from their general practitioner or participate in a discussion concerning preventive measures.
• Support citizens in actively taking care of their health and promote the use of digital technology to manage everyday life with type 2 diabetes.

Testing

• The developed solutions will be tested with approximately 150 citizens.
•  In the testing phase, it will be examined whether civil society in the form of volunteer networks, social associations, and initiatives under the Danish Diabetes Association can help support lasting lifestyle changes following patient education programs.
• A particular focus during testing will be on investigating how the health efforts in the project can strengthen social work with the citizens.

Partners

• Steno Diabetes Centre Odense
• Region of Southern Denmark
• The Danish Diabetes Association
• 5 municipalities from the Partnership for the Digital Health Centre: Assens, Faaborg-Midtfyn, Langeland, Svendborg, and Ærø.
• Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark

The Partnership on the Digital Health Centre has existed since 2013 and consists of the Region of Southern Denmark, 12 municipalities primarily from Southern Denmark, the Danish Diabetes Association, and the Danish Heart Foundation.

The Partnership was behind the project ‘Digital Patient Education’ which was carried out from 2014 to 2017 and is now implemented in 12 municipalities.

Project Duration

January 2019 - May 2021.