Podiatrist-Delivered Health Coaching to Facilitate the Use of a Smart Insole to Support Foot Health Monitoring in People with Diabetes-Related Peripheral Neuropathy.

This trial evaluated the feasibility of podiatrist-led health coaching (HC) to facilitate smart-insole adoption and foot monitoring in adults with diabetes-related neuropathy. Adults aged 69.9 ± 5.6 years with diabetes for 13.7 ± 10.3 years participated in this 4-week explanatory sequential mixed-methods intervention. An HC training package was delivered to podiatrists, who used HC to issue a smart insole to support foot monitoring. Insole usage data monitored adoption. Changes in participant understanding of neuropathy, foot care behaviours, and intention to adopt the smart insole were measured. Focus group and in-depth interviews explored quantitative data. Initial HC appointments took a mean of 43.8 ± 8.8 min. HC fidelity was strong for empathy/rapport and knowledge provision but weak for assessing motivational elements. Mean smart-insole wear was 12.53 ± 3.46 h/day with 71.2 ± 13.9% alerts not effectively off-loaded, with no significant effect for time on usage F(3,6) = 1.194 (p = 0.389) or alert responses F(3,6) = 0.272 (p = 0.843). Improvements in post-trial questionnaire mean scores and focus group responses indicate podiatrist-led HC improved participants' understanding of neuropathy and implementation of footcare practices. Podiatrist-led HC is feasible, supporting smart-insole adoption and foot monitoring as evidenced by wear time, and improvements in self-reported footcare practices. However, podiatrists require additional feedback to better consolidate some unfamiliar health coaching skills. ACTRN12618002053202.

Factors influencing Australian podiatrists' behavioural intentions to adopt a smart insole into clinical practice: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputation in Australia, costing the Australian health care system an estimated A$1.6 billion annually. Podiatrists are the primary foot health care provider in Australia. Research suggests that health professional attitudes can impact patient utilisation of e-health technologies, such as wearable foot monitoring devices aimed at preventing foot ulceration. The aim of this study was to explore factors that impact the intentions of Australian podiatrists to adopt smart insole foot monitoring technology. METHODS: A mixed methods explanatory sequential design was undertaken. One hundred and eleven Australian podiatrists completed an online version of the validated Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the strongest predictive model of podiatrists' behavioural intention to adopt technology. Additionally, two focus groups were conducted, and thematic analysis was performed to explore podiatrists' perceived barriers and enablers to smart insole adoption. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven Australian podiatrists completed the online UTAUT questionnaire. The majority of respondents practiced in the private sector (58.6%) and were female (50.5%), with Victoria the most common practice location (39.6%). Significant positive correlations existed between behavioural intention and six psychosocial domains including performance expectancy (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), effort expectancy (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), attitude (r = 0.55, p < 0.001), social influence (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), facilitating conditions (r = 0.36, p < 0.001), and self-efficacy (r = 0.30, p < 0.002). Multiple regression analysis determined that performance expectancy alone was most predictive of behavioural intention to adopt a smart insole into clinical practice (adjusted R2 = 42%, p < 0.001). Qualitative analyses revealed that podiatrists believed that the insole would increase patient knowledge, engagement and self-efficacy. However, concerns were raised about cost, footwear issues and the device's utility with elderly and remote populations. CONCLUSIONS: Performance expectancy was the most important psychosocial factor predicting the intentions of Australian podiatrists to adopt smart insole foot monitoring technologies. While Australian podiatrists are open to adopting smart insoles into clinical practice, evidence of the device's efficacy is a precursor to adoption. Other perceived barriers to adoption including device cost, compatibility with off-loading, footwear issues and patient age also need to be addressed prior to implementation and clinical adoption.

Investigating the therapeutic potential of cognitive bias modification for high anxiety sensitivity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Individuals with high anxiety sensitivity (AS) display negative interpretive biases in response to uncomfortable but nondangerous physical sensations. Research suggests that modifying interpretation biases associated with AS leads to changes in AS. The present study sought to replicate and extend this research by addressing limitations of previous studies, increasing the amount of training and adding a follow-up period. METHOD: Participants high in AS were randomly assigned to four sessions of computerized interpretation bias modification (CBM-I) training or four sessions of computerized "sham" training (control condition) over a 2-week period. The outcomes were AS, interpretive biases, and reactions to induced physical sensations. Assessments occurred at baseline, during training, immediately after the final training session, and 2 weeks after the final training; number of re-assessments varied by outcome. RESULTS: The CBM-I condition did not outperform the control condition. At the end of the training period, the CBM-I condition displayed limited reductions in AS and interpretation biases. There were no changes in reactions to induced physical sensations. Similar results were found in the control condition for all outcomes. LIMITATIONS: The control task and the dose of training may have obscured potential effects of CBM-I. CONCLUSIONS: When considered within the context of previous research, the experimental effects and therapeutic potential of CBM-I for high AS appear to be minimal. However, methodological questions need to be resolved before such a conclusion can be considered definitive.

Factors influencing behavioural intention to use a smart shoe insole in regionally based adults with diabetes: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Smart insole technologies that provide biofeedback on foot health can support foot-care in adults with diabetes. However, the factors that influence patient uptake and acceptance of this technology are unclear. Therefore, the aim of this mixed-methods study was to use an established theoretical framework to determine a model of psychosocial factors that best predicts participant intention to use smart insoles. METHODS: Fifty-three adults with diabetes from regional Australia completed the validated Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the psychosocial factors that best predict behavioural intention to adopt a smart insole. Additionally, a focus group was conducted and thematic analysis was performed to explore barriers and enablers to adopting this technology. RESULTS: The multiple regression model that best predicted intention to adopt the smart insole (adjusted R2 = 0.51, p < 0.001) identified that self-efficacy (ß = 0.67, p = 0.001) and attitude (ß = 0.72, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of behavioural intention, while effort expectancy (ß = - 0.52, p = 0.003) and performance expectancy (ß = - 0.40, p = 0.040) were moderating factors. Thematic analysis illustrates the importance of attitude and self-efficacy on participants' behavioural intentions, influenced by participant's belief in the device's clinical efficacy and anticipated effort expectancy. CONCLUSIONS: This mixed-methods study demonstrates that attitude, self-efficacy, performance expectancy and effort expectancy combine to predict intention to adopt smart insole technology. Clinicians should consider these psychosocial factors when they prescribe and implement smart soles with patients at high risk of foot ulceration.

Enablers and barriers to using two-way information technology in the management of adults with diabetes: A descriptive systematic review.

Background This systematic review aimed to explore the enablers and barriers faced by adults with diabetes using two-way information communication technologies to support diabetes self-management. Methods Relevant literature was obtained from five databases using search strategies combining four major constructs: adults with diabetes, biomedical technology, communication technology and patient utilisation. Results Of 8430 unique articles identified, 48 were included for review. Risk of bias was assessed using either the Newcastle-Ottowa or Cochrane risk of bias assessment tools. Seventy-one percent of studies were of cohort design with the majority of studies assessed at high or unclear risk of bias. Consistently identified barriers included poorly designed interfaces requiring manual data entry and systems that lacked functionalities valued by patients. Commonly cited enablers included access to reliable technology, highly automated data entry and transmission, graphical display of data with immediate feedback, and supportive health care professionals and family members. Conclusions People with diabetes face a number of potentially modifiable barriers in using technology to support their diabetes management. In order to address these barriers, end users should be consulted in the design process and consideration given to theories of technology adoption to inform design and implementation. Systems should be designed to solve clinical or behavioural problems that are identified by patients as priorities. Technology should be as automated, streamlined, mobile, low cost and integrated as possible in order to limit the burden of usage for the patient and maximise clinical usefulness.

An examination of distress intolerance in undergraduate students high in symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) engage in maladaptive coping strategies to reduce or avoid distress. Evidence suggests that uncertainty and negative emotions are triggers for distress in people with GAD; however, there may also be other triggers. Recent conceptualizations have highlighted six types of experiences that people report having difficulty withstanding: uncertainty, negative emotions, ambiguity, frustration, physical discomfort, and the perceived consequences of anxious arousal. The present study examined the extent to which individuals high in symptoms of GAD are intolerant of these distress triggers, compared to individuals high in depressive symptoms, and individuals who are low in GAD and depressive symptoms. Undergraduate students (N = 217) completed self-report measures of GAD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and distress intolerance. Individuals high in GAD symptoms reported greater intolerance of all of the distress triggers compared to people low in symptoms of GAD and depression. Individuals high in GAD symptoms reported greater intolerance of physical discomfort compared to those high in depressive symptoms. Furthermore, intolerance of physical discomfort was the best unique correlate of GAD status, suggesting that it may be specific to GAD (versus depression). These findings support continued investigation of the transdiagnosticity and specificity of distress intolerance.