TY - JOUR
T1 - Twitter Analysis of #OpenAPS DIY Artificial Pancreas Technology Use Suggests Improved A1C and Quality of Life
AU - Litchman, Michelle L.
AU - Lewis, Dana
AU - Kelly, Lesly
AU - Gee, Perry M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Diabetes Technology Society.
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - Background: Patient-driven innovation in diabetes management has resulted in a group of people with type 1 diabetes who choose to build and share knowledge around a do-it-yourself (DIY) open source artificial pancreas systems (OpenAPS). The purpose of this study was to examine Twitter data to understand how patients, caregivers, and care partners perceive OpenAPS, the personal and emotional ramifications of using OpenAPS, and the influence of OpenAPS on daily life. Methods: Qualitative netnography was used to analyze #OpenAPS on Twitter over a two-year period. Results: There were 328 patients, caregivers, and care partners who generated 3347 tweets. One overarching theme, OpenAPS changes lives, and five subthemes emerged from the data: (1) OpenAPS use suggests self-reported A1C and glucose variability improvement, (2) OpenAPS improves sense of diabetes burden and quality of life, (3) OpenAPS is perceived as safe, (4) patient/caregiver–provider interaction related to OpenAPS, and (5) technology adaptation for user needs. Conclusions: As users of a patient-driven technology, OpenAPS users are self-reporting improved A1C, day-to-day glucose levels, and quality of life. Safety features important to individuals with diabetes are perceived to be embedded into OpenAPS technology. Twitter analysis provides insight on a patient population driving an innovative solution to improve their quality of diabetes care.
AB - Background: Patient-driven innovation in diabetes management has resulted in a group of people with type 1 diabetes who choose to build and share knowledge around a do-it-yourself (DIY) open source artificial pancreas systems (OpenAPS). The purpose of this study was to examine Twitter data to understand how patients, caregivers, and care partners perceive OpenAPS, the personal and emotional ramifications of using OpenAPS, and the influence of OpenAPS on daily life. Methods: Qualitative netnography was used to analyze #OpenAPS on Twitter over a two-year period. Results: There were 328 patients, caregivers, and care partners who generated 3347 tweets. One overarching theme, OpenAPS changes lives, and five subthemes emerged from the data: (1) OpenAPS use suggests self-reported A1C and glucose variability improvement, (2) OpenAPS improves sense of diabetes burden and quality of life, (3) OpenAPS is perceived as safe, (4) patient/caregiver–provider interaction related to OpenAPS, and (5) technology adaptation for user needs. Conclusions: As users of a patient-driven technology, OpenAPS users are self-reporting improved A1C, day-to-day glucose levels, and quality of life. Safety features important to individuals with diabetes are perceived to be embedded into OpenAPS technology. Twitter analysis provides insight on a patient population driving an innovative solution to improve their quality of diabetes care.
KW - OpenAPS
KW - Twitter
KW - artificial pancreas
KW - diabetes
KW - patient innovation
KW - social media
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U2 - 10.1177/1932296818795705
DO - 10.1177/1932296818795705
M3 - Article
C2 - 30198751
AN - SCOPUS:85059701624
SN - 1932-2968
VL - 13
SP - 164
EP - 170
JO - Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
JF - Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
IS - 2
ER -