Diabetes self-management support, education, and training are increasingly being delivered through digital technology such as mobile phones. This protocol aims to evaluate the effectiveness of GLOW, a diabetes companion app with a conversational agent.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle and disease self-management skills is critical to reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications. Internationally, and in Singapore, the majority of people with diabetes report not having received structured diabetes education, while others have the knowledge and fail to apply it in their daily lives. Key self-management behaviours recommended by the American Association of Diabetes Educators include physical activity, healthy diet, blood glucose monitoring, and medication adherence, but equally important is healthy coping to maintain a positive attitude toward diabetes management. Life-long patient education and continuous empowerment are paramount to successful self-management in people with diabetes, as recommended by evidence-based diabetes management guidelines. In addition to patients, their informal carers often play an important role in the management of diabetes. As such, diabetes education for informal carers is essential to achieve the best possible diabetes outcomes in the patient. There are hundreds of diabetes apps available for the public to download and use, but few are rigorously evaluated for clinically meaningful outcomes. We designed GLOW, a diabetes companion app with a conversational agent, to support people with diabetes and their carers with self-management and knowledge.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
224
GLOW is an app for type 2 diabetes support and education that uses a conversational agent to help users develop self-management skills and learn about diabetes and healthy behaviours. This is achieved through a range of interactive strategies.
Nanyang Technological University, Center for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine
Singapore, Singapore
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGTan Tock Seng Hospital
Singapore, Singapore
RECRUITINGChanges in diabetes knowledge among patients and carers using Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
The changes in diabetes knowledge will be measured using the scores of a validated questionnaire, Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ).
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in diabetes knowledge among patients and carers in the intervention group using GLOW Quiz at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
The changes in diabetes knowledge among patients and carers in the intervention group will be measured using the scores of a new quiz developed based on GLOW modules, GLOW Quiz.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in BMI among patients at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
BMI will be retrieved from patient's clinic records and recorded in kg/m\^2.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in waist circumference among patients at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
Waist circumference will be retrieved from patient's clinic records and recorded in cm.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in glycemic controls measured by HbA1c among patients at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
HbA1c values will be retrieved from patient's clinic records and recorded in percentage.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in fasting blood glucose levels among patients at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Fasting blood glucose levels will be retrieved from patient's clinic records and recorded in mmol/L.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure among patients at baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months).
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be retrieved from patient's clinic records and recorded in mmHg.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels among patients at baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months).
High density lipoprotein (HDL) will be retrieved from patient's clinic records and recorded in mmol/L.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels among patients at baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months).
Low density lipoprotein (LDL) will be retrieved from patient's clinic records and recorded in mmol/L.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in total cholesterol levels among patients at baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months).
Total cholesterol will be retrieved from patient's clinic records and recorded in mmol/L.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in number of diabetes related hospitalization among patient at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
Data on hospitalization in term of frequency of hospitalization will be retrieved from patient's clinic records.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in medical cost of diabetes related hospitalization among patient at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
Data on direct medical cost, direct non-medical cost and indirect cost will be collected in Singaporean Dollar (SGD) terms from patient's clinic records.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in patients empowerment levels score using, Diabetes Empowerment Scale, at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
Score from a validated questionnaire, Diabetes Empowerment Scale, will be used to measure patient's empowerment levels.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in patients attitude and behaviour score using Diabetes Intention, Attitude, and Behaviour Questionnaire (DIAB-Q), at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
Score from a validated questionnaire, Diabetes Intention, Attitude, and Behaviour Questionnaire (DIAB-Q), will be used to measure patient's attitude and behaviour towards diabetes.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in patients and carers quality of life will be measured using EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire, at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
Score from a validated questionnaire, EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire, will be used to evaluate patients and carers quality of life.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in caregiving levels among carers using Diabetes Caregiver Activity and Support Scale at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
Score from a validated questionnaire, Diabetes Caregiver Activity and Support Scale will be used to evaluate the carer's caregiving levels
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
Changes in caregiving burden among carers using Brief Assessment Scale for Caregivers at baseline, interim (3 months) and end-of-trial (6 months).
Scores from a validated questionnaire, Brief Assessment Scale for Caregivers, will be used to evaluate carer's perception and sense of burden.
Time frame: baseline, interim (3 months), end-of-trial (6 months)
GLOW App login frequency among patients and carers in the intervention group at will be measured the end-of-trial (6 months).
Data on app login frequency will be retrieved from the backend database of the app at the end-of trial.
Time frame: end-of-trial (6 months)
GLOW App login period among patients and carers in the intervention group will be measured at the end-of-trial (6 months).
Data on app login period in term of "minutes spent in the app" will be retrieved from the backend database of the app at the end-of trial.
Time frame: end-of-trial (6 months)
GLOW App module completion among patients and carers in the intervention group will be measured at the end-of-trial (6 months).
Data on "number of module started" and "number of module completed" will be retrieved from the backend database of the app at the end-of trial.
Time frame: end-of-trial (6 months)
GLOW App usability perception among patients and carers in the intervention group will be measured at the end-of-trial (6 months).
Score from a validated questionnaire, MHealth App Usability Questionnaire will be used to evaluate usability of the app. This questionnaire will be built in the app and user will be requested to complete it at the end of the trial period. Data on the questionnaire scores will be retrieved from the backend database of the app at the end-of trial.
Time frame: end-of-trial (6 months)