_{Junhee Ahn PhD (Assistant Professor), Youngran Yang PhD (Professor), Gloria Park PhD, APRN, FNP-C, RN (Assistant Professor)}

Highlights

• •Elderly Diabetic Patients Show High Acceptance of CGM: Focus group interviews reveal that elderly diabetic patients in South Korea find Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) highly usable and beneficial for managing their condition.

• •Effective Self-Management Through CGM: Participants demonstrate an 81 % adherence rate to CGM, indicating effective self-management and decision-making capabilities in diabetes treatment.

• •Balanced View of CGM’s Benefits and Challenges: Satisfaction with CGM averages 3.76 out of 5, reflecting a balanced perspective of its advantages and inconveniences, such as cost and accuracy concerns.

• •Need for Tailored CGM Education for the Elderly: The study underscores the importance of developing CGM educational programs specifically designed for elderly patients, to enhance understanding and effective use.

• •Recommendations for Policy and Technology Enhancements: Recommendations include expanding CGM insurance coverage and promoting real-time CGM technology to improve usability and acceptance among elderly diabetic patients.


Abstract
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability, usability, compliance, and satisfaction of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) among elderly diabetic patients.

Design
Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study involved 30 participants, averaging 74.79 years in age. Participants wore two CGM devices, and their experiences, along with survey data, were comprehensively analyzed to gauge the effectiveness of CGM in managing diabetes.

Results
The study demonstrated that -CGM- is highly usable and acceptable among elderly diabetic patients. Participants effectively utilized CGM to monitor and predict blood glucose trends, positively influencing their glucose control and lifestyle. The average adherence rate was found to be 81 %, indicating a substantial level of effective self-management and treatment decision-making.

Conclusion
The study recommends developing CGM educational programs tailored for the elderly, educating healthcare professionals, expanding insurance coverage for CGM, and promoting real-time CGM technology to improve usability and acceptance among the elderly.

Click here to see published article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019745722400185X