Development and pilot testing of an empowerment-based educational app for complementary therapies in diabetes: a Delphi study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • Developed the educational app integrating WHO empowerment strategies for managing complementary therapies in diabetes. • Conducted rigorous Delphi method and pilot testing for validation processes, demonstrating high face and content validity, and receiving strong consensus among external experts on the app's relevance and usability. • Aligned with human-centered design principles for mHealth development, addressing context-specific user needs, specifying requirements, and evaluating design solutions to meet usability and effectiveness criteria. Diabetes management often includes complementary therapies alongside conventional treatment, yet patients may lack the knowledge to integrate both safely. Empowering the use of complementary therapies in diabetes management may enhance patients' understanding of their benefits and risks, support informed decision-making, and improve overall care of diabetes. To develop and pilot test the Empowerment-based Complementary Therapies for Diabetes Management educational application (app) A two-round modified Delphi method, conducted from October 2023 to April 2024, involved 23 external experts and six patients with diabetes. The app was designed using the WHO's empowerment framework, emphasizing self-control, cognitive, psychological, and behavioral strategies. Expert consensus was achieved via the content validity index and pilot testing focused on functionality and usability in patients with diabetes. This app demonstrated acceptable face validity, with a score of 0.88, and content validity, with item-level and scale-level content validity indices exceeding 80 percent. The pilot testing confirmed that the app's navigation, secure authentication processes, and reliable data storage systems are not only user-friendly but also feasible. Notably, participants showed a significant 9.02% increase in their understanding of the benefits and risks of using complementary therapies in diabetes, underscoring the app's educational effectiveness. The app is a capable educational tool for empowering patients with diabetes by providing information on complementary therapies and enhancing their ability to integrate these therapies safely with conventional medicine. Introducing the Educational App for Complementary Therapies in Diabetes: Empowering patients to integrate complementary therapies with conventional care by improving understanding of benefits and risks and supporting informed decisions via expert consensus.
Authors: Hsiao-Yun Chang, Yu-Yao Huang
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,930
OpenAlex ID: W4410397352