Working together to improve type 2 diabetes care: a Participatory Design project to address identified needs of people with diabetes and their healthcare professionals.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes care in Australia is often fragmented and provider-centered, resulting in suboptimal care. Innovative solutions to bridge the evidence-practice gap are needed, and technology can facilitate the redesign of type 2 diabetes care. To increase the chances of fulfilling stakeholders' needs we used Participatory Design. Using this method, we explored solutions aimed at redesigning diabetes care, focusing on the previously identified needs.

METHODS: The Participatory Design project was guided by stakeholders' contributions. Stakeholders of this project included people with type 2 diabetes, healthcare professionals, technology developers and researchers. Information uncovered at each step influenced the next: 1) identification of needs, 2) generation of solutions, and 3) testing of solutions. Here, we present steps 2 and 3. In step 2, we presented previously identified issues and elicited creative solutions. In step 3 we obtained stakeholders' feedback on the solutions from step 2, presented as care pathways.

RESULTS: Suggested solutions included a multidisciplinary wellness center; a mobile App; increased access to education; improved care coordination; increased support for general practitioners; and a better funding model. The revised care pathways featured accessible community resources; a tailored self-management and educational App; a care coordinator; a digital dashboard; and specialized support for primary care to deal with complex cases.

CONCLUSION: Using a Participatory Design, we successfully identified multiple innovative solutions with the potential to improve person-centered and integrated type 2 diabetes care in Australia. These solutions will inform the implementation and evaluation of a redesigned care model by our team.