Lifestyle changes among people with type 2 diabetes are associated with participation in online groups and time since diagnosis

BMC Health Services Research

Silje C. Wangberg¹  Eirik Årsand²  Anne Helen Hansen³ 

[1] Department of Health and Caring Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway;Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway;Department of Computer Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway;University Hospital of North Norway, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, PO Box 35, 9038, Tromsø, Norway;Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Hospital of North Norway, PO Box 35, 9038, Tromsø, Norway;

关键词: eHealth;    Internet;    Lifestyle;    Online support groups;    Cross-sectional study;    Type 2 diabetes;    Norway;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12913-021-06660-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundFor people with Type 2 diabetes (T2D), lifestyle changes may be the most effective intervention. Online groups for people with diabetes holds a great potential to support such changes. However, little is known about the association between participation in online groups and lifestyle changes based on internet information in people with T2D. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-reported lifestyle changes and participation in online groups in people with T2D.MethodsWe used e-mail survey data from 1,250 members of The Norwegian Diabetes Association, collected in 2018. Eligible for analyses were the 540 respondents who reported to have T2D. By logistic regressions we studied the association between self-reported lifestyle changes and participation in online groups. Analyses were adjusted for gender, age, education, and time since diagnosis.ResultsWe found that 41.9 % of the participants reported lifestyle changes based on information from the internet. Only 6 % had participated in online groups during the previous year. Among those with a disease duration of less than 10 years, 56.0 % reported lifestyle changes, whereas 33.4 % with a disease duration of 10 years or more did so. The odds for lifestyle changes were more than doubled for those who participated in online groups. People who had been diagnosed with diabetes for less than 10 years were significantly more likely to change their lifestyle compared to those with a longer disease duration.ConclusionsLifestyle changes based on information from the internet among people with T2D are associated with participation in online groups. Lifestyle changes are also associated with time since diagnosis, making the first years after a T2D diagnosis particularly important for lifestyle interventions. People with T2D, web site developers, online group moderators, health care services, and patient organisations should be aware of this important window for lifestyle change, and encourage participation in online groups.

【 授权许可】

CC BY