Massive open online course for type 2 diabetes self-management: adapting education in the COVID-19 era

Abstract

IntroductionType 2 diabetes self-management education is an essential component of type 2 diabetes care that is traditionally delivered in a face-to-face setting. In response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, innovative solutions are urgently needed, allowing provision of self-management education that can be delivered in compliance with social distancing policies. Innovations that are self-service and can deliver education efficiently at low cost are particularly appealing to healthcare providers and commissioners.MethodsWe aimed to evaluate user uptake, dropout, acceptability, satisfaction, perceived short-term knowledge gain and health benefits/behaviour changes in relation to a free massive open online course (MOOC) in diabetes self-management education, created and delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic. This course, focusing on addressing knowledge and self-management needs for people with type 2 diabetes, made use of online interactive content including expert and patient videos, quizzes, moderated discussion boards and live social media that encouraged personal reflection and goal setting. User expectations and experiences were explored via survey-based methods. Here, we present our experience of developing the course and describe users’ experiences.Results1991 users registered interest in the course over a 2-week period, with 976 users starting the course and 640 (65.6%) users completing the course in full. Users engaged well, finding the course educational, user-friendly and motivating, demonstrating high completion rates and user satisfaction. A statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in self-reported self-management ability and health knowledge was observed among participants with type 2 diabetes.DiscussionMOOCs in type 2 diabetes self-management education have great potential for delivering education efficiently at scale and low cost. Although engagement can be limited by digital literacy, benefits include flexible and remote access to up-to-date, evidence-based education delivered by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

Education at scale: Improvements in type 1 diabetes self‐management following a massive open online course

“…MOOCs for DSME have previously been well received in a diverse type 2 diabetes cohort, associated with sustained improvements in self-reported health knowledge and self-management ability. 3,4 We developed and delivered an MOOC in type 1 DSME and herein report user experience and 3-month follow-up.…”

Diabetes Mellitus Management during the Coronavirus disease-19 Pandemic: Literature Review

“…The use of digital diabetes education in healthcare is currently limited, and adoption is slow due to lack of budget, rigid procurement pathways, and clinical inertia. Digital interventions are low cost due to a lower level of reliance on resources for online coaching [24].…”

“…In addition, MOOC can provide a shared experience for many people, facilitated through discussion boards and social media that enable real support from health workers. Mackenzie et al (2021) in his research showed that MOOC has a high retention and completion rate with 65.6% of registered users completing the course and favored diabetic mellitus because of its flexibility compared to face-to-face alternatives in the midst of this pandemic situation [24].…”

Enrollment and Completion Characteristics for Novel Remote Delivery Modes of the Self-management Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploratory Analysis

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in skyrocketing utilization of digital platforms for health-related services, such as provider visits, support groups, and wellness classes [1][2][3]. Digital platforms provided a safer alternative to in-person meetings during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in some cases, improved access by facilitating more timely appointments or eliminating the need to travel [4][5][6][7].…”