Engagement with a nationally-implemented digital behaviour change intervention: Usage patterns over the 9-month duration of the National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme

Hawkes, Rhiannon E; Miles, Lisa; Ainsworth, Ben; Ross, Jamie; Meacock, Rachel; French, David P.

doi:10.1016/j.invent.2023.100647

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…A recent quantitative analysis exploring engagement with the NHS-DDPP found that the group support functions were very rarely used across the provider programmes, although there was some engagement with the group chats during the first 3 months of the programme when health coach moderation was also provided. 35 The current qualitative study complements these previous findings. Service users suggested that the health coaches helped to increase engagement and rapport within the group chats, and this format of support received more positive feedback compared to experiences with the group discussion forums which was mixed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“… 36 Further, the current study adds context to how service users engaged with these groups. Although previous research has found that users rarely posted or interacted with comments on the open group discussion forums, 35 some service users in this study reported to read group posts without further engagement, describing that it was reassuring to know the groups were there if they needed them. The literature has already distinguished between the ‘posters’ and ‘lurkers’ in online support groups, 27 suggesting that users can still benefit from online group support passively.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

“…The literature has already distinguished between the ‘posters’ and ‘lurkers’ in online support groups, 27 suggesting that users can still benefit from online group support passively. Thus, although engagement with the group support appeared low in the NHS-DDPP, 35 these digital functions could still be providing support, guidance and reassurance to some users who are not actively participating.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experiences of online group support for engaging and supporting participants in the National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme: A qualitative interview study

Cheung,

Miles,

Hawkes

et al. 2023

J Health Serv Res Policy

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Objectives The National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme is a nine-month behavioural intervention for adults in England at risk of type 2 diabetes. This qualitative study aimed to explore how service users engaged with the group support available within the programme. Methods The majority of participants ( n = 33), all service users, were interviewed twice via telephone, at 2–4 months into the programme, and at the end of the programme at 8–10 months. Semi-structured interviews covered participants’ experiences of online group support functions and how such groups served as a route of support to aid participants’ behavioural changes. Data were analysed using manifest thematic analysis. Results The majority of participants valued the format of closed group chats, which provided an interactive platform to offer and receive support during their behaviour change journey. However, engagement with group chats reduced over time, and some participants did not find them useful when there was a lack of common interests within the group. Health coaches helped to promote engagement and build rapport among participants within the group chats. Participants reported mixed experiences of discussion forums. Conclusions Programme developers should consider how to optimise online group support to help service users make behavioural changes, in terms of format, participant composition and use of health coach moderators. Further research is required to better understand who might benefit most from ‘group chat’ or ‘discussion forum’ support. Health coach moderation of online support groups is likely to facilitate engagement.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experiences of online group support for engaging and supporting participants in the National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme: A qualitative interview study

Cheung,

Miles,

Hawkes

et al. 2023

J Health Serv Res Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Research on the digital NHS-DPP has found that people on the digital programme have increased engagement with key intervention components such as setting goals and monitoring their health behaviours when they receive interaction with a health coach associated with those components. 29 This programme of work has found that health coaches in the digital NHS-DPP help to increase engagement, motivation and accountability for service users on the programme. 30 More research is needed to better understand the amount of health coach support required to keep users engaged in these digital programmes and how this support is best delivered (e.g.…”

Section: Engagement In Diabetes Prevention Programmesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preventing type 2 diabetes: A research agenda for behavioural science

et al. 2023

Self Cite

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“…Studies of the NHS-digital-DPP have described the features of the interventions [38,39], people's attitudes toward use [28], and the features that people engage with over the 9-month program [40]. However, there has yet to be any research exploring the way in which service providers have designed the NHS-digital-DPP to promote participant engagement or describing early use.…”

Section: Engagement With Dhismentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Early Use of the Nationally Implemented Healthier You National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme: Mixed Methods Study

Ross¹,

Hawkes²,

Miles³

et al. 2023

J Med Internet Res

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Background The Healthier You National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS-digital-DPP) is a 9-month digital behavior change intervention delivered by 4 independent providers that is implemented nationally across England. No studies have explored the design features included by service providers of digital diabetes prevention programs to promote engagement, and little is known about how participants of nationally implemented digital diabetes prevention programs such as this one make use of them. Objective This study aimed to understand engagement with the NHS-digital-DPP. The specific objectives were to describe how engagement with the NHS-digital-DPP is promoted via design features and strategies and describe participants’ early engagement with the NHS-digital-DPP apps. Methods Mixed methods were used. The qualitative study was a secondary analysis of documents detailing the NHS-digital-DPP intervention design and interviews with program developers (n=6). Data were deductively coded according to an established framework of engagement with digital health interventions. For the quantitative study, anonymous use data collected over 9 months for each provider representing participants’ first 30 days of use of the apps were obtained for participants enrolled in the NHS-digital-DPP. Use data fields were categorized into 4 intervention features (Track, Learn, Coach Interactions, and Peer Support). The amount of engagement with the intervention features was calculated for the entire cohort, and the differences between providers were explored statistically. Results Data were available for 12,857 participants who enrolled in the NHS-digital-DPP during the data collection phase. Overall, 94.37% (12,133/12,857) of those enrolled engaged with the apps in the first 30 days. The median (IQR) number of days of use was 11 (2-25). Track features were engaged with the most (number of tracking events: median 46, IQR 3-22), and Peer Support features were the least engaged with, a median value of 0 (IQR 0-0). Differences in engagement with features were observed across providers. Qualitative findings offer explanations for the variations, including suggesting the importance of health coaches, reminders, and regular content updates to facilitate early engagement. Conclusions Almost all participants in the NHS-digital-DPP started using the apps. Differences across providers identified by the mixed methods analysis provide the opportunity to identify features that are important for engagement with digital health interventions and could inform the design of other digital behavior change interventions.

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Engagement with a nationally-implemented digital behaviour change intervention: Usage patterns over the 9-month duration of the National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme

Cited by 8 publications

References 43 publications

Experiences of online group support for engaging and supporting participants in the National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme: A qualitative interview study

Experiences of online group support for engaging and supporting participants in the National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme: A qualitative interview study

Preventing type 2 diabetes: A research agenda for behavioural science

Design and Early Use of the Nationally Implemented Healthier You National Health Service Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme: Mixed Methods Study

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