%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I Gunther Eysenbach
%V 9
%N 3
%P e23
%T Stakeholder Perspectives on the Development of a Virtual Clinic for Diabetes Care: Qualitative Study
%A Armstrong,Natalie
%A Hearnshaw,Hilary
%A Powell,John
%A Dale,Jeremy
%+ Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom, +44 24 765 74505, Natalie.Armstrong@warwick.ac.uk
%K Virtual clinic
%K diabetes
%K Internet
%K stakeholder consultation
%K consumer health informatics
%K focus groups
%D 2007
%7 9.8.2007
%9 Original Paper
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X 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. 
%R 10.2196/jmir.9.3.e23
%U http://www.jmir.org/2007/3/e23/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.9.3.e23