Retrospective Pilot Feedback Survey of 200 Users of the AIDA Version 4 Educational Diabetes Program. 3—Discussion.

Abstract

This column continues the report of a detailed, questionnaire-based, post-release feedback survey of 200 users of the AIDA version 4 educational diabetes simulator. AIDA is a software program-available without charge from www.2aida.org-that permits the interactive simulation of plasma insulin and blood glucose profiles for educational, demonstration, self-learning, and research purposes. The main goals of the questionnaire-based survey were: (i) to establish what people have thought about the AIDA software, (ii) to assess the utility of the program, and (iii) to ascertain how much people have actually used it. Three ancillary study objectives were: (a) to identify any problems that users may have experienced with the software since its launch, with the intention being for any critical problems to be addressed in future upgrades; (b) to identify features that users felt were important to have incorporated in later releases of the program; and (c) to establish the feasibility of undertaking such a post-release diabetes software survey primarily via electronic mail. In Part 1 of this column (Diabetes Technol Ther 2006;8:419-432) an analysis was undertaken of quantitative data from the first 200 feedback forms that were returned by AIDA users. In Part 2 of the column (Diabetes Technol Ther 2006;8:602-608) qualitative feedback comments left by users as part of the questionnaire-based survey were overviewed. The present column discusses the findings of the survey and highlights issues for future consideration. One concept that is introduced is the drug paradigm for assessment of medical software. Even after a drug has been tested, evaluated, and released-pharmaceutical firms still have systems in place to monitor usage and any complications. It is proposed that similar concepts should apply for medical informatics tools and software-with post-release monitoring of programs taking place routinely. This approach is exemplified for the AIDA software by data from the current post-release monitoring survey.

Incorporating a Generic Model of Subcutaneous Insulin Absorption into the AIDA v4 Diabetes Simulator

“…While AIDA v4 is a widely used diabetes simulator, 7,8 which has been available for over a decade, it does have certain limitations. 12 These have been highlighted over the years by different users, but the authors themselves have also been considering how the diabetes simulator should be revised and extended in response to developments in diabetes and computing technology that have taken place over the past ten years. Early general ideas about future developments with the diabetes simulation approach have appeared elsewhere, 24,31,32 reflecting alternative ways in which such enhancements could be envisaged.…”

“…Many of these are based on feedback received from users of the existing AIDA v4 program. 12 If possible, the patient weight limit for simulation will be increased above the current restriction of 99 kg. A new upper weight limit of greater than 150 kg is likely to be set.…”

“…10,11 It is important to stress that the major need is not just about creating a Windows version of the program with a more user-friendly graphical user interface instead of the current DOS version, but that important enhancements in content also need to be considered to address some of the recently reported requests received from an n = 200 survey of AIDA users. 12 Such desired enhancements include, for example, the provision of oral hypoglycemic agents, proper inclusion of diurnal variations, and adding new insulin analogues to the program in order to permit the simulation of any insulin management regimen currently used in clinical practice.…”

Development of AIDA v4.3b Diabetes Simulator: Technical Upgrade to Support Incorporation of Lispro, Aspart, and Glargine Insulin Analogues

“…As a first stage to updating the AIDA simulator, a decision was taken to focus on the appearance of insulin in the plasma following a subcutaneous injectionthereby incorporating more novel insulin analogues into the program. In a survey of 200 users of the AIDA v4 software this was an often requested "wish list" feature for a new release of the program [24][25][26].…”

“…Based on the large number of downloads, user comments clearly demonstrate that the AIDA educational software has so far stood the test of time [24][25][26]. Like other software products more than 14 years after their original launch, however, the time is ripe to consider potential revisions to the existing AIDA program.…”