Diabetes Learning in Virtual Environments Just in Time for Community Reentry

Conditions studied

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

About this study

The proposed study will use a randomized clinical trial design with non-equivalent control group and longitudinal design to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the Diabetes LIVE JustICE application. The design will incorporate repeated measures at 0, 6, and 12 weeks. Outcome variables will include recruitment assessments, participation, engagement, user experience, and measures proximally related to behavior change - e.g., diabetes knowledge, diabetes-related distress, diabetes self-care, and social support and clinical outcomes -e.g., glycemic control. Focus group interviewing will be conducted to evaluate acceptability among intervention group participants.

Interventions

• Other: Diabetes LIVE JustICE — Diabetes LIVE JustICE will be an adaptation of the current Diabetes LIVE persistent multi-user online virtual environment built on the Unreal Engine (Epic Games, Inc., Cary, NC) that allows users to talk to each other in real-time and participate in instructor-led synchronous sessions. Users can access the virtual environment through IOS/Android devices. Instructors can show learning material such as Google Docs and PowerPoint. The LIVE JustICE community will contain a community center, a tranquility center, and a message board. This will be an interactive community where participants will communicate in real-time on their mobile device or, if preferred, using their computer via text or audio chat. Access to LIVE will allow participants to utilize resources and links in the application, leave a message on the message board for the diabetes educators, or engage with other participants. Research team members will add and trial gaming activities to the VE during this feasibility study.
• Other: Enhanced Education — See control group description above

Primary outcomes

• Demographics (baseline)
• Potential Confounding Effects (week 1)
• Potential Confounding Effects (week 2)
• Potential Confounding Effects (week 3)
• Potential Confounding Effects (week 4)
• Potential Confounding Effects (week 5)
• Potential Confounding Effects (week 6)
• Metabolic Indicator (baseline)

Eligibility information

Study locations

• University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269 United States
• University of Connecticut, Storrs Mansfield, Connecticut 06269-0001 United States