Litchman ML, Lewis D, Kelly LA, Gee PM (2018) Twitter analysis of #OpenAPS DIY artificial pancreas technology use suggests improved A1C and quality of life. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2018 Sep 10:1932296818795705 [epub ahead of print]
- Frustration about delays in the development, licensing or adoption of diabetes technologies has led to patient-driven innovation in diabetes management.
- The open source artificial pancreas (OpenAPS) uses patient-developed innovations to combine existing insulin pumps and glucose monitors to form self-built, unlicensed, hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery systems.
- Litchman and her co-authors examined data relating to #OpenAPS on Twitter to gain an understanding of how users, care givers and care partners perceive this technology, what the personal and emotional ramifications of using it are, and the influence it has on the quality of life of people with type 1 diabetes.
- Qualitative netnography of #OpenAPS on Twitter identified 3,347 tweets sent by 328 patients, care givers and care partners.
- Data analysis led to the identification of one main theme: OpenAPS changes lives. The five sub-themes relating to OpenAPS use that emerged were: suggested improvements in self-reported HbA1c and glucose variability; an improved sense of quality of life and reduced diabetes-related disease burden; the perception that OpenAPS is safe; the adaption of technology to meet user needs; and patient/caregiver–provider interactions.
- Twitter analysis suggests that OpenAPS users experience improvements in metabolic outcomes and quality of life, and feel the technology is safe, however further research is needed to confirm these findings.
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