Feasibility and usability study of the ERES: A mobile application to intervene in emotional regulation and self-efficacy in minors with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most prevalent endocrine diseases in childhood. The behavioral component is crucial for effective self-regulation of the disease. Psychological therapy improves emotional management, reducing some of the associated symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to analyze the use of a mobile application (app) (ERES) designed for training in emotional regulation and self-efficacy for children and adolescents with T1D.

METHODS

In mixed groups of eight participants, three face-to-face and five online sessions were combined in an 8-week intervention in a specific sequence. Users had the ERES app installed on their devices (mobiles or tablets), where they accessed different materials and activities to conduct online sessions.

RESULTS

A total of 28 patients, diagnosed with T1D, between 7 and 18 years old, started the intervention program, of whom 19 (  = 11.63;  = 2.59; 12 girls) made use of the app (67.86%). To determine the level of usability of the app, the System Usability Scale (SUS) was applied, whose results were favorable. We found an average score of 71.1 for usability and 75.66 for learnability, both within a good range of satisfaction. The overall mean scale score was 72.5, which consists of a participants' good adherence to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of the first studies to analyze and develop the feasibility and usability of an app to improve emotional well-being in minors with T1D. The results show that ERES is a feasible tool with good levels of usability and ease of learning, which allows the improvement of patients' well-being.