Objectives

The project model seeks to develop a culturally appropriate digital diabetes education platform for children and young people with type 1 diabetes (CYPT1D) in Pakistan based on DigiBete, a community-led, clinically approved platform used in the UK national health system. The platform will be rolled out across the country.

Approach

The project’s main activities include:

1. An expert advisory group will oversee the development and roll-out of Pakistan’s digital diabetes education platform. The platform will be based on the existing DigiBete model and deployed in the Pakistani context. Meethi Zindagi will host the platform.
2. Co-creation of content will be developed jointly with CYPT1D, families and local healthcare professionals (HCPs) to ensure culturally diverse and inclusive resources. Key content includes essential standardised diabetes management resources and videos on culturally specific content. Content will be tested among users and quality approved by local experts post-production. All content will be in line with ISPAD guidelines for low-resource countries.
3.  A group of HCPs will be trained to use the digital diabetes education platform. The training is based on DigiBete’s existing training model.
4. The digital platform will be rolled out to the wider target community through different community uptake pathways by:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    a) Training HCPs to introduce the platform to CYPT1D with internet access at home                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           b) Establishing digital diabetes education centres for the underprivileged population at public and non-profit hospitals to ensure access for those without internet or smartphones                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           c) Using the digital resources in Meethi Zindagi’s ongoing activities, incl. school awareness programs, peer support groups, diabetes camps and online webinars

5. A comprehensive framework will be established to ensure surveillance and evaluation of clinical outcomes. Clinical teams will support patients and carry out surveys regularly.

Expected results

• 20 digital diabetes education centres equipped across the country targeting public health facilities
• 30-50,000 children have improved access to digital diabetes education via a culturally adapted digital platform
• 100 HCPs trained in digital diabetes education
• 10,000 households, including children and parents, are utilising the digital diabetes platform
• 20 educational videos about diabetes management, diet and exercise produced
• Clinical outcome indicators and improvements in quality of life assessed in 200 children
• 75% of children will have improvements in glucose levels measured by HbA1c