Digitale Interventionen zur Förderung der Gesundheitskompetenz: ein Vergleich der Perspektiven von Jugendlichen mit Typ-1-Diabetes und Ärzt:innen

For adolescents who are considered “digital natives” and suffer from type 1 diabetes (T1D), digital interventions offer the opportunity to strengthen health literacy. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic accelerated the implementation of digital interventions. However, the question remains as to whether they can be comprehensively integrated into diabetology care or are used only marginally.

The aim of this study is to compare the perspectives of physicians and adolescents with T1D on the use of digital interventions to strengthen health literacy.

The study is based on the comparison of two separate qualitative primary studies on digital interventions in adolescents with T1D. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews. The first study examined the views of physicians (n = 12), while the second study looked at the perspectives of adolescents with T1D (n = 20). Both studies were analyzed separately and used the COREQ checklist by Tong et al. (2007).

Two relevant themes from the studies were identified and compared: peer-to-peer relationships and the use of digital interventions in communication between physicians and adolescents with T1D. The results suggest that there are inconsistencies in the evaluation, the perceived use and the added value of digital interventions.

The importance of peer-to-peer relationships and communication between physicians and patients is rated differently by adolescents with T1D and physicians. These differences have implications for the use and promotion of digital health technologies to improve health literacy.