A Quantitative and Qualitative Exploration of Critical Factors in the IAI-CGM Framework: The Perspective of Saudi Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

An internet of things-enabled continuous glucose monitor (IoT-CGM) is a medical device designed for continuous monitoring of patients’ glucose levels without the need for frequent fingerstick blood samples. This study aims to measure the adoption intention of individuals with type-1 diabetes in Saudi Arabia, with a specific focus on identifying the critical factors influencing their intention to adopt IoT-CGMs. The surge in the number of type-1 diabetes patients in Saudi Arabia demands prompt and effective measures. This medical condition is becoming significantly more prevalent, with reports indicating that a quarter of Saudi adults are expected to develop diabetes by 2030. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches to investigate the significance of practical, technological, and user behaviour factors in the intention to adopt internet of things-enabled continuous glucose monitors (IAI-CGM) among patients with type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Saudi Arabia. Quantitative data were collected from 873 T1DM patients in Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 T1DM patients from King Khaled Najran Hospital (KKNH) and the Najran region in Saudi Arabia. The framework predicts a significant impact of all factors on the adoption intention except for technology-related self-efficacy (TRSE), allowing for the assessment of Saudi T1DM patients’ readiness for IoT-CGM. Conversely, accuracy and accessibility emerge as the primary driving themes, with accurate results significantly influencing individuals towards adopting IoT-CGMs, as revealed in the qualitative results. The complexity of new technologies and the lengthy process involved in acquiring the device hindered the adoption of IoT-CGMs. However, the user-friendly interfaces of such devices contributed to the adoption intention. Patients’ attitudes significantly influenced the tendency to adopt the technology, although concerns about appearance were also evident. The results of this study provide recommendations to enhance the overall quality of the user experience with IoT-CGMs. It is recommended that CGM makers explore ways to reduce the cost of these devices through mass production, particularly for individuals residing in countries with lower standards of living. Furthermore, the novelty of the framework may inspire the development of comparable frameworks for wearable or attached health-monitoring devices catering to patients with various medical conditions and in different geographical locations.