Patients’ and primary care professionals’ views on, and preferences for, a digital diabetes prevention programme (DDPP) among individuals at high risk of developing diabetes

Five million adults in England are thought to be at high risk of developing diabetes. Several studies have shown that even small changes to diet and physical activity can significantly reduce the chance that these individuals will go on to develop diabetes. Group lifestyle programmes that improve diet and increase exercise are being rolled out by the NHS. There is increasing evidence that digital – or online – programmes are also effective at tackling these behaviours, and could be a cost-effective alternative. We aim to develop a digital diabetes prevention programme that helps individuals increase exercise and improve their diet. However, understanding intended users’ barriers to changing their behaviour and preferences for a digital programme is an important first step in this process, to make sure the programme attracts and is acceptable to these potential users. For this study, we plan to hold a number of small group sessions and individual interviews where we can explore people’s needs and preferences. As GPs and practice nurses would ultimately recommend the digital programme, we also feel it is important to understand their views and preferences, so we will also hold small group sessions with GPs and nurses.