Digital Therapeutics (DTx) for Diabetes
Aim
It is currently estimated that 80 per cent of annual mortality related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to the WHO. The prevalence of diabetes is high across the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, constituting an increasing public health problem. Lebanon is one of the countries in the region that has experienced a sharp rise in the burden of NCDs, including diabetes, over the last decade. In Lebanon, the estimated prevalence of diabetes in 2021 for people aged 20-79 years is 396 per 1000 people, and it is predicted to increase to 469 per 1000 by 2030, according to data from the International Diabetes Federation.
Due to socio-economic factors and the complex nature of diabetes management adherence to medication among people living with diabetes in low-resource settings is suboptimal. Individuals living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are also at increased risk for depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. These compounding factors lead to poor glycemic control, clinical outcomes, and quality of life. There is a clear demand for improved systems that provide support to patients living with diabetes to increase their ability to confidently self-manage their condition and improve their treatment experience and their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The Digital Therapeutics (DTx) for Diabetes case, initially launched by the MSF Sweden Innovation Unit (SIU) and the Operational Centre Geneva (OCG) in 2021 in collaboration with NCD clinicians and patients in Greece and Lebanon clinics, aims to both deliver a patient support intervention and understanding of how DTx may supplement current MSF practices. More specifically this project aims to:
Assess the needs of patients living with Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) who are undergoing treatment in MSF clinics in the Bekaa Region, Lebanon.
Co-create a patient support intervention including a DTx and clinician management dashboard alongside patients, their caregivers, and MSF clinical and operational experts.
Implement an intervention which integrates with the MSF Lebanon system to build patient understanding and confidence in self-management practices.
Generate evidence of patient-perceived quality of care (QoC) and patient outcomes.
Establish a replicable pathway for scaling DTx interventions across MSF and beyond in humanitarian and global health contexts.
Status
INITIATION
Completed.
DEVELOPMENT
In progress.
IMPLEMENTATION
Upcoming.
Stakeholders
MSF Sweden Innovation Unit (SIU)
MSF Operational Centre Geneva
Clinics in Bekaa Region, Lebanon
Funding
MSF Sweden Innovation Unit
MSF Operational Centre Geneva
Transformational Investment Capacity (TIC)
Contact
Hanna Phelan, Project Lead, Digital Therapeutics (DTx) for TB and Diabetes
hanna.phelan@stockholm.msf.org
Resources