Digital follow-up of patients with type 1 diabetes in the specialist health service (DigiDiaS)

The knowledge will contribute to the development of the services at Akershus University Hospital (Ahus) in Norway in accordance with the clinics' desire to provide flexible follow-up based on the patients' need for support.

Through this project we particularly aim to gather knowledge about

patients' satisfaction with using the digital solution
possible differences between patients who are interested in digital follow-up and those who are not
any effects of digital follow-up on the patients' health, quality of life and self-management
how both healthcare personnel and patients make use of the opportunities the digital solution provides
how the digital solution can be developed further
health economic aspects related to user-guided digital follow-up

The close collaboration between researchers and the clinic is central to the project, and user involvement with both staff and patients has been important in the planning of the project as well as the implementation.

The project is a collaboration between Akershus University Hospital (Ahus) and OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

More about the project

The emergence of new digital solutions has created opportunities for facilitating flexible and user-guided follow-up and holds the potential to contribute to the development of a sustainable healthcare service.

In 2021, an app-based solution with this purpose was implemented at the endocrinology outpatient clinic at Akershus University Hospital in Norway in the follow-up of patients with type 1 diabetes.

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the digital follow-up and identify needs for further development.

Both patients and healthcare personnel at the outpatient clinic are recruited to the project. Patients who express interest in participating in the study will receive a questionnaire at baseline and after one year to gather data and assess any changes over time.

In addition, observations of consultations and individual interviews with both patients and healthcare personnel will be conducted to explore the utilization and acceptability of the digital solution.

The results will have a direct impact on the services provided at the endocrinology outpatient clinic at Akershus University Hospital and ensure that the solution is developed in line with the needs of the patients and the clinic.

The project will also contribute to knowledge about the use of digital tools in the follow-up of patients with type 1 diabetes.