System engineering approach of the home self-management of type 2 diabetes: a work in progress

Developing usable technology that is effectively integrated into the daily management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) requires an in-depth understanding of how people living with (PT2D) perform their tasks. This research adopts a systems approach to address this goal, and to ultimately support the development of technologies that contribute to the safe and effective management of T2D. This exploratory ethnographic study of PT2D using insulin in their homes employs semi-structured interview photo-walkabouts. Interviews are recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis with photos using deductive and inductive content analysis approaches based on Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) 2.0. To date, 18 participants have been recruited and data from 7 have been analyzed. This work-in-progress report provides a preliminary characterization of the way the work system's components shape PT2D's and informal caregiver's distributed cognition and action.