@Article{info:doi/10.2196/jmir.9.3.e23,
author="Armstrong, Natalie
and Hearnshaw, Hilary
and Powell, John
and Dale, Jeremy",
title="Stakeholder Perspectives on the Development of a Virtual Clinic for Diabetes Care: Qualitative Study",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2007",
month="Aug",
day="9",
volume="9",
number="3",
pages="e23",
keywords="Virtual clinic; diabetes; Internet; stakeholder consultation; consumer health informatics; focus groups",
abstract="Background:  The development of the Internet has created new opportunities for health care provision, including its use as a tool to aid the self-management of chronic conditions. We studied stakeholder reactions to an Internet-based ``virtual clinic,'' which would allow people with diabetes to communicate with their health care providers, find information about their condition, and share information and support with other users. Objective:  The aim of the study was to present the results of a detailed consultation with a variety of stakeholder groups in order to identify what they regard as the desirable, important, and feasible characteristics of an Internet-based intervention to aid diabetes self-management. Methods:  Three focus groups were conducted with 12 people with type 1 diabetes who used insulin pumps. Participants were recruited through a local diabetes clinic. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 5 health care professionals from the same clinic (2 doctors, 2 nurses, 1 dietitian) and with 1 representative of an insulin pump company. We gathered patient consensus via email on the important and useful features of Internet-based systems used for other chronic conditions (asthma, epilepsy, myalgic encephalopathy, mental health problems). A workshop to gather expert consensus on the use of information technology to improve the care of young people with diabetes was organized. Results:  Stakeholder groups identified the following important characteristics of an Internet-based virtual clinic: being grounded on personal needs rather than only providing general information; having the facility to communicate with, and learn from, peers; providing information on the latest developments and news in diabetes; being quick and easy to use. This paper discusses these characteristics in light of a review of the relevant literature. The development of a virtual clinic for diabetes that embodies these principles, and that is based on self-efficacy theory, is described. Conclusions:  Involvement of stakeholders is vital early in the development of a complex intervention. Stakeholders have clear and relevant views on what a virtual clinic system should provide, and these views can be captured and synthesized with relative ease. This work has led to the design of a system that is able to meet user needs and is currently being evaluated in a pilot study. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/jmir.9.3.e23",
url="http://www.jmir.org/2007/3/e23/",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.9.3.e23"
}