MedPath

Social Media Use in Adolescent Diabetes Care

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Type 1 Diabetes
Interventions
Behavioral: Social Media
Registration Number
NCT06085339
Lead Sponsor
Seattle Children's Hospital
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of a social media intervention to support diabetes management in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Adolescent participants will be randomized to receive diabetes education and peer support over Instagram or to usual outpatient diabetes care. Researchers will assess whether the social media intervention is feasible. In addition, the study team will also explore and compare changes in glucose levels and person-reported outcomes between the two groups.

Detailed Description

The majority of adolescents with type 1 diabetes do not meet recommended glycemic targets, placing them at risk for acute and chronic diabetes-related complications. Strategies that improve adolescent diabetes self-management are needed. Social media offers new opportunities to provide diabetes education and peer support through communication in a digital environment.

As part of a randomized controlled trial, adolescent participants will be randomized to receive diabetes education and peer support over Instagram in addition to usual care or to standard outpatient diabetes care.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes ≥12 months
  • Most recent hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level is > 7.0%
  • Currently use Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system
  • Speak English fluently
  • Cognitively able to participate in program on Instagram and complete surveys
  • Have access to a personal Instagram account
  • Found to be eligible on the Social Media Preference Screener
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patient is a ward of the state
  • Patient is pregnant as diabetes standard of care is different during pregnancy (i.e., different glycemic targets and frequency of clinic visits)
  • Severe comorbidities including other major chronic health conditions that significantly impact daily management demands or health outcomes

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Social Media InterventionSocial MediaIn addition to receiving usual care, participants enrolled in the social media arm will receive diabetes education and support over the course of 6 months by following the study team's Instagram page and engaging with the study team and other adolescent participants on Instagram.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Feasibility: Retention Rate6 months

Percentage of enrolled participants who complete the final 6-month surveys.

Feasibility: Enrollment0 months

Percentage of participants who enroll in study after in-person or remote discussion about study participation.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time In RangeChange over 6 months

Continuous glucose monitor sensor glucose measurements collected during the intervention that are in range (70-180 mg/dL).

Diabetes Self-ManagementChange over 6 months

Adherence will be assessed with the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate higher adherence to diabetes self-management.

Diabetes Family ConflictChange over 6 months

Diabetes family conflict will be assessed with the Diabetes Family Conflict Scale. Higher scores indicate higher diabetes family conflict.

Screen TimeChange over 6 months

Screen time use will be measured by the Screen Time summary from a participant's smartphone device.

Time Above RangeChange over 6 months

Continuous glucose monitor sensor glucose measurements collected during the intervention that are above range (\>180 mg/dL).

Time Below RangeChange over 6 months

Continuous glucose monitor sensor glucose measurements collected during the intervention that are below range (\<70 mg/dL).

Diabetes DistressChange over 6 months

Diabetes distress will be assessed with the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale -- Teen Version. Higher scores indicate higher diabetes distress.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)Change over 6 months

HbA1c laboratory measurements collected during the intervention.

Depressive SymptomsChange over 6 months

Depressive symptoms will be assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8. Higher scores indicate higher depressive symptoms.

Health Care Transition ReadinessChange over 6 months

Health care transition readiness will be assessed with the Readiness Assessment in Emerging Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosed in Youth. Higher scores indicate higher health care transition readiness.

Problematic Internet UseChange over 6 months

Adolescent problematic internet use will be assessed with the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale. Higher scores indicate higher concern for problematic internet use.

Mental WellbeingChange over 6 months

Mental wellbeing will be assessed with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Higher scores indicate higher mental wellbeing.

Diabetes StrengthsChange over 6 months

Adolescents' diabetes-specific "strengths" (i.e., positive behaviors and attitudes related to the challenges of living with type 1 diabetes) will be assessed with the Diabetes Strengths and Resilience measure. Higher scores indicate increased diabetes-specific strengths.

Diabetes Quality of LifeChange over 6 months

Diabetes-specific quality of life will be assessed using the adolescent self-report version of the Type 1 Diabetes and Life. Higher scores indicate higher diabetes-specific quality of life.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Seattle Children's Hospital

🇺🇸

Seattle, Washington, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath