Bao Wann KKU application for calculating insulin doses and clinical reporting in children living with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Background : Type 1 diabetes in children requires lifelong insulin injections. The dosage depends on blood sugar levels and the carbohydrate content of meals, making it a complex calculation. The objective of this study is to develop an application for calculating insulin doses and reporting clinical outcomes in children living with type 1 diabetes.

Objective : To develop an application that calculates insulin dosage and provides clinical reporting for children living with type 1 diabetes.

Methods : This research employed a development cycle involving two user groups: children living with type 1 diabetes and physicians. It began with an assessment of the current situation, identifying problems and needs through literature reviews, interviews, and content analysis. The findings were analyzed qualitatively to design and develop the application. Subsequently, both user groups tested the application for 1 week (30 children with type 1 diabetes and 4 relevant physicians). They then assessed the application in three areas: usability, effectiveness, and efficiency using evaluation forms.

Results : Bao Wann KKU application comprises two parts tailored for each user group: a children living with type 1 diabetes application and a physician application. The children living with type 1 diabetes application features 10 main menus that allow users to set or modify target values as prescribed by a physician, calculate carbohydrates and insulin dosage, assess mental health, record medical visits, and access educational resources for self-care. It is compatible with both iOS and Android systems, functioning online and offline. The physician application includes 4 main menus for reviewing blood sugar control reports, mental health screening results, diabetes complications, and records of historical data related to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Satisfaction assessments revealed that both male (n=9) and female (n=21) children living with type 1 diabetes, with an average age of 150.66 months (12.6 years), rated their overall satisfaction positively, with no significant differences in satisfaction levels between users (p-value > 0.05) across all three evaluation aspects. The application successfully calculated insulin dosages accurately, aligning with manual calculations and serving as a substitute for traditional log books.

Conclusion : The Bao Wann KKU application meets the needs of both children living with type 1 diabetes and their healthcare providers by accurately calculating carbohydrate and insulin dosages. It offers clinical reporting that aids children living with type 1 diabetes in self-care and assists physicians in treatment planning and managing complications more effectively.