| Title: | Understanding user interactions with the artificial pancreas |
| Project Description: | The ‘artificial pancreas’ (AP) is a new treatment for diabetes which allows for the automatic control of blood glucose levels by replicating some of the functions of a healthy pancreas. The system wirelessly links a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and insulin pump, both body-mounted, with a tablet-mounted algorithm in order to calculate and administer the optimal amount of insulin required at any given time.
Following successful lab-based studies, researchers at the University of Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) are now carrying out research on the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of the AP system for pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes in the home setting. This research is important because of potential gaps between lab-based efficacy and real-world effectiveness – gaps which may emerge because of variations in users’ wider attitudes towards science, medicine and (especially) technology. Existing research has demonstrated the relevance of such attitudes for experiences of technology in general, but as yet little is known regarding the impact of wider attitudes on the use of personal medical devices such as the AP. In this context, the present study investigates the details of user interactions with the artificial pancreas system, and the interplay between these interactions and users’ wider attitudes towards technology, science, and medicine. The study is a qualitative embedded prospective study utilising semi-structured interviews with study participants (N=16) at T1 (pre-study) and T2 (post-study), conducted as part of an open-label randomised crossover feasibility study. The study utilises thematic analysis techniques and is informed by the ‘sensemaking’ theory developed by organisational sociologist Karl Weick. |
| Project organisation | |
| Start date: | 1st April 2014 |
| End date: | 1st December 2015 |
| Contact person: | Dr Conor Farrington |
| Contact Details: | Primary Care Unit Institute of Public Health University Forvie Site, Robinson Way Cambridge Cambs CB2 0SR UK Telephone: tba Fax: 01223 762515 E-mail: cjtf2@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Collaborative: | Professor Helen Murphy, Clinical Professor in Medicine (Diabetes and Antenatal Care), Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia
Dr Zoe Stewart, Clinical Research Fellow, University of Cambridge Dr Roman Hovorka, Director of Research, Department of Paediatrics Cambridge Biomedical Research : http://www.cambridge-brc.org.uk/ |
| Further Information, References and Publications | |
| Link to Project Website : http://paediatrics.medschl.cam.ac.uk/research/the-artificial-pancreas-project/ | |