Barriers to Diabetes Technology and Care in Underserved Communities
Background
- The study examined barriers to technology use and endocrinology care among disadvantaged communities with type 1 diabetes. Our team played a critical role in transcribing, translating, analyzing surveys, coding interviews, and reporting.
Methods
- The study used a semistructured format to conduct focus groups with adults living with type 1 diabetes in Florida and California. Barriers at multiple levels, including individual, provider, and system/policy levels, were identified through thematic analysis.
Our Contributions
- Transcription and Translation Datagain transcribed focus group discussions conducted in English and Spanish. Our translations were essential in ensuring inclusivity and accuracy of data from diverse participants.
- Survey Analysis Statistical analysis was conducted on prefocus group survey data to contribute to the study’s findings on variations in technology use based on SES, race, ethnicity, and education. The report adhered to conventional academic structure and formatting features.
- Interview Coding Key barriers at the individual, provider, and system levels were identified through thematic analysis of transcripts. Coding was conducted using methods such as constant comparison and grounded theory.
- Reporting The thematic findings were synthesized through our reporting process. This contributed to an understanding of the multifaceted barriers and the need for targeted interventions.
Our contributions helped identify disparities in diabetes management and technology among underserved communities. The development of potential strategies to address these disparities was informed by the findings of our analysis.
