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. 2025 May 15:8:100353.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2025.100353. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Development and pilot testing of an empowerment-based educational app for complementary therapies in diabetes: a Delphi study

Hsiao-Yun Chang  1 , Yu-Yao Huang  2
Affiliations

Development and pilot testing of an empowerment-based educational app for complementary therapies in diabetes: a Delphi study

Hsiao-Yun Chang et al. Int J Nurs Stud Adv. .

Abstract

Background: Diabetes management often includes complementary therapies alongside conventional treatment, yet patients may lack the knowledge to integrate both safely. Empowering the use of complementary therapies in diabetes management may enhance patients' understanding of their benefits and risks, support informed decision-making, and improve overall care of diabetes.

Objective: To develop and pilot test the Empowerment-based Complementary Therapies for Diabetes Management educational application (app).

Methods: A two-round modified Delphi method, conducted from October 2023 to April 2024, involved 23 external experts and six patients with diabetes. The app was designed using the WHO's empowerment framework, emphasizing self-control, cognitive, psychological, and behavioral strategies. Expert consensus was achieved via the content validity index and pilot testing focused on functionality and usability in patients with diabetes.

Results: This app demonstrated acceptable face validity, with a score of 0.88, and content validity, with item-level and scale-level content validity indices exceeding 80 percent. The pilot testing confirmed that the app's navigation, secure authentication processes, and reliable data storage systems are not only user-friendly but also feasible. Notably, participants showed a significant 9.02 % increase in their understanding of the benefits and risks of using complementary therapies in diabetes, underscoring the app's educational effectiveness.

Conclusions: The app is a capable educational tool for empowering patients with diabetes by providing information on complementary therapies and enhancing their ability to integrate these therapies safely with conventional medicine.

Tweetable abstract: The Educational App for Complementary Therapies in Diabetes empowers patients to integrate complementary therapies safely with conventional medicine.

Keywords: Complementary therapies; Delphi method; Diabetes; Educational application (APP); Empowerment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Hsiao-Yun CHANG reports financial support was provided by Chang Gung University of Science and Technology. Yu-Yao HUANG reports administrative support was provided by Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Hsiao-Yun CHANG reports a relationship with Chang Gung University of Science and Technology that includes: employment. None If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
The process of the Delphi technique used.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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