Older adults' experiences with a tablet-based self-management intervention for diabetes mellitus type II : a qualitative study / Mohammad Y. Alkawaldeh, Cynthia S. Jacelon, Jeungok Choi

Technological interventions to support self-management can potentially help older adults manage their health, live active lives, and maintain their independence. The objective of this study was to assess individuals’ experiences and perceptions of using a tablet-based application for 30 days as a component of routine diabetes self-management care in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the context of daily living. A qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews was used. The participants found the tablet-based application to be a beneficial and valuable component of their routine self-management activities. Five themes emerged from the interviews, namely self-dependence, awareness, positive impact on attitude and behavior, support, and balance. Findings from the individual interviews indicate that technological applications have a unique potential to support the foundations for attitude and behavioral changes toward self-management behaviors and activities, thus improving clinical outcomes.

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