CLAHRC BITE

Brokering Innovation Through Evidence Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care

BITE 7 November 2012

A bite-sized summary of a project within CLAHRC for South Yorkshire Whose diabetes is it? We worked with two family support groups from Rotherham and Barnsley and staff from Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust to understand the health service experiences of young people with type 1 diabetes. With them, we have devised a proposal for an innovative new service to support young people with diabetes. The proposed service streamlines positive aspects of existing provision into one brand and information resource. The information is delivered via means that better fit young people’s lifestyles. It allows young people and families to receive reassurance from others who know “what it’s like”. This project is hosted by the CLAHRC User-Centred Healthcare Design (UCHD) theme.

Whose diabetes is it? Most young people with type 1 diabetes have periods feeling disconnected from their condition and then do not regularly test their blood glucose levels or inject insulin, with potentially damaging health consequences. For most, their primary source of support in managing their diabetes is a three-monthly clinic where they report feeling ‘told off’ by health professionals and bombarded with questions (if they attend at all). In short, young people are left feeling “whose diabetes is it, anyway?” This project recognises that current clinic-focussed services give primacy to NHS practices and health targets. There is an opportunity for new ways of delivering support that value the needs and lifestyles of young people, and recognises the complementary support available from other young people and families who “know what it’s like” living with type 1. To this end, UCHD designers have led a series of workshops that used creative techniques to understand the experiences of living with diabetes existing services. To ensure these participatory activities were both productive and engaging, the designers used popular TV-themed workshops, for example developing ideas in the X-Factor and bringing in Dragon’s Den experts. The resulting service proposal (entitled Whose Diabetes is it?) is available to download: www.clahrc-sy.nihr.ac.uk/resources-project-reports.html

About CLAHRC for South Yorkshire There are nine CLAHRCs in England. Our remit is to undertake applied research and implementation activities, and to build capacity within our partner organisations. CLAHRC for South Yorkshire is a partnership between universities, the NHS, and other NIHR initiatives.

Our websites www.clahrc-sy.nihr.ac.uk www.whosediabetesisit.org.uk This is a summary of independent research within CLAHRC for South Yorkshire. CLAHRC for South Yorkshire acknowledges funding from the National Institute for Health Research. The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. CLAHRC SY would also like to acknowledge the participation and resources of our partner organisations. Partner details can be found on our website.