A theoretical framework for a virtual diabetes self-management community intervention.
Due to its high prevalence, chronic nature, potential complications, and self-management challenges for patients, diabetes presents significant health education and support issues. We developed and pilot-tested a virtual community for adults with type 2 diabetes to promote self-management education and provide social support. Although digital-based programs such as virtual environments can address significant barriers to reaching patients (i.e., child care, transportation, location), they must be strongly grounded in a theoretical basis to be well-developed and effective. In this article, we discuss how we synthesized behavioral and virtual environment theoretical frameworks to guide the development of SLIDES (Second Life Impacts Diabetes Education and Support).
Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, USA allison.vorderstrasse@duke.edu.
Allison
A
Vorderstrasse
Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, USA.
Ryan J
RJ
Shaw
University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
Jim
J
Blascovich
Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, USA.
Constance M
CM
Johnson
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D014584:User-Computer Interface
diabetes self-management education; theoretical framework; type 2 diabetes; virtual environment