Utility and Acceptability of a Brief Type 2 Diabetes Visual Animation: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

Abstract

Background Visualizations of illness and treatment processes are promising interventions for changing unhelpful perceptions and improving health outcomes. However, these are yet to be tested in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective This study assesses the cross-cultural acceptability and potential effectiveness of a brief visual animation of T2DM at changing unhelpful illness and treatment perceptions and self-efficacy among patients and family members in 2 countries, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia. Health care professionals’ views on visualization are also explored. Methods A total of 52 participants (n=39, 75% patients and family members and n=13, 25% health care professionals) were shown a 7-minute T2DM visual animation. Patients and family members completed a questionnaire on illness and treatment perceptions and self-efficacy before and immediately after the intervention and completed semistructured interviews. Health care professionals completed written open-ended questions. Means and 95% CIs are reported to estimate potential effectiveness. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on qualitative data. Results All participants rated the visual animation as acceptable and engaging. Four main themes were identified: animation-related factors, impact of the animation, animation as an effective format for delivering information, and management-related factors. Effect sizes (ranged from 0.10 to 0.56) suggested potential effectiveness for changing illness and treatment perceptions and self-efficacy among patients and family members. Conclusions Visualizations are acceptable and may improve the perceptions of patients’ with diabetes in a short time frame. This brief visual animation has the potential to improve current T2DM education. A subsequent randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects on illness and treatment perceptions, adherence, glycemic control, and unplanned hospital admission is being prepared.

Understanding Physical Activity Behavior in Ghanaian Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

“…Specific strategies to enhance effective PA teaching should be considered. Role modeling has been described as a modifiable variable for enhancing exercise self-efficacy [ 48 ]. Potentially, learning can be improved by encouraging visualisation, followed by repetition of the modelled behavior [ 48 ].…”

“…Role modeling has been described as a modifiable variable for enhancing exercise self-efficacy [ 48 ]. Potentially, learning can be improved by encouraging visualisation, followed by repetition of the modelled behavior [ 48 ]. This highlights the importance of building strong patient-provider relationships and incorporating supportive communication strategies into healthcare practice.…”

Illness perceptions and diabetes self-care behaviours in Māori and New Zealand Europeans with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

“…27 A recent feasibility study found that a short diabetes visual animation was well received by patients in New Zealand, and future research could further develop this. 28 For Māori, interventions should include establishing trust, connection (whanaungatanga) and respect (manaakitanga) with the patient, as well as fostering empowerment (rangatiratanga). The presence of cultural support and/ or family (whānau) in consultations with Māori patients is also important.…”