HEAL-D Online: Exploring the potential for the spread and adoption of a virtual culturally tailored diabetes self-management programme for adults of African and Caribbean heritage

Background: People of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK have a higher prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and poorer health outcomes than white Europeans. Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles for Diabetes Online (HEAL-D Online) is a co-designed, culturally tailored T2D self-management programme for black African and Caribbean adults, which, due to online delivery, is well positioned for spread. This qualitative evaluation uses the Exploration-Preparation-Implementation-Sustainment (EPIS) framework to explore factors affecting scale-up from delivery and commissioning perspectives.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine commissioners and providers of T2D services from three English areas with varying population characteristics to explore scale-up. Focus groups were held with 15 people of African and Caribbean heritage with T2D lived experience to explore the impact of a digital model of participation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, with themes mapped onto the EPIS framework exploration phase constructs to consider the outer and inner contextual factors for planning implementation.

Results: Six EPIS constructs were identified by commissioners and providers as key in scaling HEAL-D Online. People with T2D lived experience explored the online mode of delivery, using the patient advocacy construct as the analytical lens. In delivering an online T2D programme, two themes were identified: (1) aligning course content with people's preferences; (2) practicalities to ensure online delivery was acceptable and accessible to the community.

Conclusions: HEAL-D Online was acceptable with the potential to help address health inequalities. The EPIS framework provided a structure to understand factors in planning scale-up for an intervention targeting underserved communities.