Salihu Ejura Y, Omuya Helen, Joseph Deborah T, Hassan Judith H, Ali Asma, Chewning Betty
School of Pharmacy, Social and Administrative Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Oct 30;16(10):e72700. doi: 10.7759/cureus.72700. eCollection 2024 Oct.
Background Adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) experience stress from general life stressors and diabetes-specific stressors. This stress manifests in a range of ways, such as mood swings, heightened frustration, strained familial relationships, and difficulties in T1DM self-management, which then leads to worse health outcomes. There is small to moderate evidence that frequent use of mental health applications (MHapps) improves mental and physical health outcomes. Meditation apps may help reduce some of the stress associated with living with T1DM. This study explores the acceptability and scalability of a self-guided, smartphone-based meditation app, the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) app, among adolescents with T1DM using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Methods Eight adolescents ages 15-19 were recruited from a pediatric clinic in a Midwestern state and introduced to the HMP app. After using the HMP app for one week, they were invited to participate in three successive focus group meetings. During the meetings, they shared their perspectives on the content, navigation, and acceptability of the HMP app and strategies to introduce and scale app utilization among adolescents with T1DM. Researchers conducted conventional content analysis using a hybrid coding approach. Data was managed and analyzed using NVivo 10 (Lumivero, Denver, Colorado, USA). Findings Participants believed that the HMP app has the potential to enhance their stress management, mood, and coping abilities when dealing with the challenges of T1DM management. They found the app enjoyable and easy to use but expressed concerns about time constraints as a potential barrier. To address this, they shared recommendations for facilitating app uptake and usage. Conclusions This study's results provide an in-depth understanding of how positively this subset of adolescents with T1DM viewed the HMP app. The participants also offered valuable suggestions that can promote the adoption and sustained use of MHapps by adolescents living with T1DM.
背景 1 型糖尿病（T1DM）青少年会经历来自一般生活压力源和糖尿病特异性压力源的压力。这种压力以多种方式表现出来，如情绪波动、挫折感加剧、家庭关系紧张以及 T1DM 自我管理困难，进而导致更差的健康结果。有少量到中等程度的证据表明，频繁使用心理健康应用程序（MHapps）可改善身心健康结果。冥想应用程序可能有助于减轻与 T1DM 生活相关的一些压力。本研究使用技术接受与使用统一理论，探讨一款基于智能手机的自助冥想应用程序——健康心灵计划（HMP）应用程序在 T1DM 青少年中的可接受性和可扩展性。方法 从美国中西部一个州的儿科诊所招募了 8 名 15 - 19 岁的青少年，并向他们介绍了 HMP 应用程序。在使用 HMP 应用程序一周后，邀请他们参加连续三次焦点小组会议。在会议期间，他们分享了对 HMP 应用程序的内容、导航和可接受性的看法，以及在 T1DM 青少年中引入和推广应用程序使用的策略。研究人员使用混合编码方法进行传统内容分析。数据使用 NVivo 10（美国科罗拉多州丹佛市的 Lumivero 公司）进行管理和分析。结果 参与者认为，HMP 应用程序在应对 T1DM 管理挑战时，有潜力增强他们的压力管理、情绪和应对能力。他们觉得该应用程序有趣且易于使用，但表示担心时间限制是一个潜在障碍。为解决这一问题，他们分享了促进应用程序采用和使用的建议。结论 本研究结果深入了解了这一 T1DM 青少年亚组对 HMP 应用程序的积极看法。参与者还提供了宝贵的建议，可促进 T1DM 青少年采用和持续使用 MHapps。
