Acceptance of the Artificial Pancreas: Comparing the Effect of Technology Readiness, Product Characteristics, and Social Influence Between Invited and Self-Selected Respondents

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial factors that may affect acceptance of artificial pancreas (AP) systems have been investigated in small sample sizes of highly motivated, self-selected persons with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) with a focus on product characteristics. We aimed to develop a valid survey to investigate the association of technology readiness and social influence with AP acceptance in a larger sample, including both self-selected and invited respondents with T1DM. Methods: An online survey was developed based on established questionnaires. Intention to use the AP was chosen as measure of AP acceptance. T1DM patients who signed up themselves for scientific research into AP systems represented the self-selected group, while patients treated at a teaching hospital represented the invited group. Questionnaire values were compared using independent t-tests and regression analyses. Results: The developed survey showed reliability and validity. The survey was completed by 425 self-selected and 109 invited persons. Intention to use the AP was high in both groups, but was significantly higher among self-selected respondents. In both groups, intention to use the AP was most strongly related to product compatibility, followed by product complexity, technology readiness, and product usefulness among invited respondents; and followed by product usefulness and technology innovativeness among self-selected respondents. Conclusions: Product characteristics have a stronger relationship with AP acceptance than technology readiness, while social influence does not seem to be associated with AP acceptance. As the (strength of) factors differ between self-selected and invited persons, researchers and product developers should be cautious when relying on self-selected persons with T1DM in the design, development, and testing of AP systems.

Survey about do-it-yourself closed loop systems in the treatment of diabetes in Germany

“…Of the 902 respondents, 85.5% stated that they would trust such a system, whereas 8.0% (n = 84) would not, and another 8.0% saw no need for improvement in their current therapy. This finding is similar to previous surveys [ 25 ].…”

“…of DIYCL users compared to non-users in our survey corresponds to prior data must be assessed critically [25] Nevertheless, the result is positive, because a greater power was achieved with the DIYCL survey.…”

“…Over 50% of all respondents would use a commercial full CL system if available. Whether the prevalence of DIYCL users compared to non-users in our survey corresponds to prior data must be assessed critically [ 25 ] Nevertheless, the result is positive, because a greater power was achieved with the DIYCL survey.…”

“…We used the R environment for statistical computing for statistical analyses and creation of the plots [ 25 ]. For the correlation of the HbA 1c value to the TIR the Shapiro-Wilk test on normal distribution was used.…”

Information and communication technology enabling partnership in person-centred diabetes management: building a theoretical framework from an inductive case study in The Netherlands

“…Additionally, a recent study highlighted the findings that acceptance of an AP system depends more on a stronger bond of the users with product characteristics (such as usefulness, complexity and compatibility) than technology readiness (such as innovativeness and insecurity) 42. However, the researchers also concluded that the results differed between self-selected and invited persons, so researchers and product developers should be cautious when relying only on self-selected persons in the design, testing and development of AP systems.…”