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The experiences of people with diabetes who use the Internet

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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EllenBrady

New Member
Hi everyone,

My name is Ellen Brady and I am a PhD student at the University of Manchester in the UK. The administrator has given me permission to post here in order to look for people who might be willing to take part in my research.

As part of my research, I am looking at the views and experiences of patients with long term illnesses who use the Internet and particularly Internet forums. Addressing this topic will add to previous research on the use of online discussion groups by patients, and help researchers and health professionals to understand the role that Internet forums play in the lives of chronically ill patients.

In particular, I would like to know more about the experiences of people over the age of 18 with diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2) throughout the UK. In order to do this, I would like to interview a number of people with diabetes about their use of the Internet. I am interested in speaking to both frequent and infrequent Internet users, as I would like to talk to people with a range of views and experiences.

These interviews will take place by phone or in person, whichever is easier for you, and will last 30 to 60 minutes. Everything that is said during the interview will be kept confidential. If you think you would like to take part, I can send you an information sheet with more details on the study.

If you are based in the UK and would like further information or to take part in the study, please contact me through the forum and I can send you on my email address and phone number.

Thank you,
Ellen
 
Ellen happy to take part but admins (Northerner, etc) can you confirm this has been approved?
 
This is worth doing if you have the time. I had a chat with Ellen on the phone a couple of weeks ago and was impressed by the quality of the questions and her approach. Well worth your time.
 
........strange that an internet questionnaire cannot be completed on the internet! 🙄
 
Phil65 said:
........strange that an internet questionnaire cannot be completed on the internet! 🙄
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I don't know, I think that the online questionnaires often have big gaps in them which means important points may get overlooked or underplayed 🙂
 
Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of your responses.

The administrator asked me not to include my contact details on the forum, but if you send me a private message, I can send you on more information. You can also see my email address and phone number on my University of Manchester page (http://www.population-health.manchester.ac.uk/students/EllenBrady/).

Phil65, I'm looking to have more of a chat with people rather than give them a questionnaire. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Because I want to hear about people's experiences, both positive and negative, I felt that interviews would give people a chance to talk about their views and to bring up any topics that they felt were important to discuss.
 
May I point out that diabetes is a condition not an illness? 🙂
 
EllenBrady said:
Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of your responses.

The administrator asked me not to include my contact details on the forum, but if you send me a private message, I can send you on more information. You can also see my email address and phone number on my University of Manchester page (http://www.population-health.manchester.ac.uk/students/EllenBrady/).

Phil65, I'm looking to have more of a chat with people rather than give them a questionnaire. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Because I want to hear about people's experiences, both positive and negative, I felt that interviews would give people a chance to talk about their views and to bring up any topics that they felt were important to discuss.
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......I just can't spare an hour on the phone
 
To be honest the phone interview was a far better use of my time than filling out some of the incredibly poorly designed online surveys that come through. I was actually able to articulate my opinion, rather than trying to shoe horn my experiences into a set of options designed by someone who obviously has little idea about diabetes. For this kind of research I think the phone interview works very well.
 
LeeLee said:
What... never? I've asked for an early evening slot, and I'm in the process of fixing a date now.
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er....actually yes! I haven't got a constant hour to spare. An online survey; although not ideal, only takes 5 or 10 mins.
 
Phil65 said:
......I just can't spare an hour on the phone
Click to expand...

Hi Phil65, if you would like to take part but don't have an hour to spare, I could do a series of short interviews rather than one longer one. However, I completely understand if you don't want to take part and you are under no obligation to do so.
 
I had a most enjoyable interview with Ellen last week - because as Allison said, she asks sensible questions! instead of cutting you off in full flow when you haven't got half the things you've just thought of in response off your chest, and moving on to the next thing.

Or picking up on 3 words you happened to utter and delving into them and ignoring everything else. How many times do we see interviewers (esp them media folk) doing THAT, and putting your quotes somewhere entirely out of context?
 
hello all, just had my interview with Ellen and she's a lovely lady - let me gabber on as much as I liked and asked some very positive and thought provoking questions.
 
I also enjoyed my interview with Ellen back in February.
 
I have only been diagnosed as diabetic for 6 months, but if it would help your research I could take part. Good luck. 🙂
 
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