A qualitative exploratory study of user experience with a peer-support based, self-management website for people with a cardiovascular condition and diabetes

Chiung-Jung (Jo) Wu; Rohan S Poulter; John Atherton; Richard J MacIsaac; Yan Leung; Patrick C K Hung; Mary-Anne Ramis

doi:10.1177/20552076251350927

Back

A qualitative exploratory study of user experience with a peer-support based, self-management website for people with a cardiovascular condition and diabetes

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A qualitative exploratory study of user experience with a peer-support based, self-management website for people with a cardiovascular condition and diabetes

Chiung-Jung (Jo) Wu, Rohan S Poulter, John Atherton, Richard J MacIsaac, Yan Leung, Patrick C K Hung and Mary-Anne Ramis

Digital Health, Vol.11, pp.1-11

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251350927

PMID: 40534892

Files and links (1)

pdf

wu-et-al-2025-a-qualitative-exploratory-study-of-user-experience-with-a-peer-support-based-self-management-website-for1.00 MBDownload View

Published VersionCC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access

Abstract

peer support

website

cardiac

diabetes

qualitative

Background Cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes are two serious chronic health conditions that impact patients, families, and health services. Patients who experience both conditions can struggle to access relevant programmes to guide and educate them on successful self-management. Peer support has been proven to assist patients in managing these dual conditions, but the experience of using an online platform has not been previously explored. Aim To understand the experience of using a theory-based, peer-support, self-management website for people with cardiovascular and diabetes conditions in an Australian regional health service. Design An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken. Our study is reported according to COREQ guidelines. Methods Data were collected via online, semi-structured interviews approximately one week after participants were asked to engage with the website. Interviews were conducted to focus on the user experience, feasibility and usefulness of accessing the website, and how it helped support development of self-management skills. Interview data were transcribed from audio recordings into text files, thematic analysis was conducted for evolving themes. Results Fifteen participants agreed to be interviewed for the study. Findings revealed that participants found the website useful for providing relevant, comprehensive, and reliable online health information to help them manage their comorbidities. Participants appreciated the opportunity to share their experiences with others, and some expressed their interest in becoming peer supporters, to help others who might be trying to manage similar comorbidities. Conclusion Users’ experience of the peer-support, web-based programme was positive overall and supported the physical and emotional well-being of the participants, who were trying to manage two complex chronic health conditions. Considerations for further development are reported on.

Details

Title: A qualitative exploratory study of user experience with a peer-support based, self-management website for people with a cardiovascular condition and diabetes
Authors: Chiung-Jung (Jo) Wu (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nursing
Rohan S Poulter - Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
John Atherton - The University of Queensland
Richard J MacIsaac - The University of Melbourne
Yan Leung - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
Patrick C K Hung - Ontario Tech University (Canada, Oshawa) - OTU
Mary-Anne Ramis - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nursing
Publication details: Digital Health, Vol.11, pp.1-11
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1177/20552076251350927
ISSN: 2055-2076
PMID: 40534892
Copyright note: © The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
Data Availability: Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed in the current study.
Grant note: This project was supported by a start-up grant, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, awarded to Associate Professor Chiung-Jung Wu.
Organisation Unit: School of Business and Creative Industries; Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health - Nursing
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991136706002621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

1 File views/ downloads

17 Record Views

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Health Care Sciences & Services; Health Policy & Services; Medical Informatics; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites