Discussion Topics for the Focus Groups
(Italicized question denotes direct triggers of provider–patient communication discussion.)
Major topics:
1. What is it like for you living with diabetes?
2. Because you have been diagnosed with diabetes, what positive changes if any have occurred in your life?
3. What’s different about diabetes than other chronic diseases?
4. Tell me about your experiences with diabetes education groups.
5. What kinds of information do you want/need about diabetes?
6. How, if at all, has HealthTrak affected your management or control of your diabetes?
7. How would you describe your experiences in using HealthTrak?
8. What is it like for you to communicate with your physician or other health care providers using HealthTrak to communicate with your physician?
9. How would you compare HealthTrak with other ways that you have tried to get information about diabetes?
10. If you were going to grade the HealthTrak what kind of grade would you give it and why?
11. How do you feel about participating in the HealthTrak?
12. We are trying to understand the value of HealthTrak to its users. There are different components that you may find more or less valuable. If you had to provide a monthly dollar amount for how much you value a particular component of the HealthTrak system, how much would you say (1) for having access to you laboratory results; (2) for having access to messaging with your physician; and (3) for the tools that help you track and manage your blood sugars, weight, and exercise? Is it worth it to you? If the choice was not having the service or paying for messaging, is it worth it to continue? What is too high?
13. If the hospital requires physicians to subscribe to HealthTrak in order for their patients to use it, would it be worth it for your doctor to purchase it? If your doctor’s office found it to be expensive and some of the costs were to be passed on to you, what do you think would be a reasonable amount to pay on a monthly subscription basis? What if a “basic plan” with information links and the ability to review labs were available for free, but access to scheduling and messaging services (e.g., to your physician, the office, or the diabetes educator) had a charge?
14. Overall, would you recommend HealthTrak to a friend?
15. Is there anything you would like to add that was not discussed?