Formation of a Type 1 diabetes Young Adult Panel (YAP) to develop a health behaviour change intervention to improve health service engagement

Health and Well-being

Formation of a Type 1 diabetes Young Adult Panel (YAP) to develop a health behaviour change intervention to improve health service engagement

Project synopsis

A Young Adult Panel (YAP) of service users with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) was formed to contribute to the development of an effective intervention called D1 Now. It centres on patient-centred care for young people with diabetes.

Galway University Hospitals, Jigsaw Galway and Young Adult Panel

• Public and patient involvement (co-design and co-production).
• Systematic Review.
• Intervention development using Behaviour Change Wheel and
Medical Research Council’s framework for developing and
evaluating complex interventions.
• YAP members participated in different stages of the research
process:
– They were represented on the research study steering
group and attended research meetings.
– They developed research materials (topic guides for
interviews and focus groups, Participant Consent
Forms), reviewed and interpreted research findings and
helped develop the on-line platform to enhance
engagement between young adults and their diabetes
healthcare providers.
– They contributed to an international consensus
conference on health services delivery for young adults
with T1D, were keynote speakers at three national
conferences and wrote specific sections of a further
grant application to test out the new intervention.

The outputs are as follows:
• The D1 Now intervention protocol for young adults living with
T1D.
• Peer reviewed journal articles, conference participation and
associated media coverage.
The outcomes are as follows:
• As a direct result of the YAP, a meaningful dialogue has opened
up between healthcare providers and young adults within D1
Now research team. Their involvement has led to a better
understanding of what needs to be achieved in order to
improve health service delivery.
• They have been active members in co-designing a health
behaviour change intervention to improve engagement
between young adults with T1D and healthcare providers,
which will be evaluated in future research.
• The successful trial of a stakeholder model to develop effective
interventions for young adults living with T1D.

Health & Wellbeing

Human Capacity

Policy & Public Service

Professional services

Higher Education Institution:

National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)

Funding Source:

Health Research Board Health Research Award

Academic Contact:

Prof Sean Dinneen (NUI Galway)

Mary Clare O’Hara (HSE)
MaryClare.OHara@hse.ie