Healthcare professionals’ experiences with the use of continuous glucose monitoring in nursing homes and home healthcare services: a qualitative study

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is commonly used to monitor glucose levels in younger people with type 1 diabetes, but its use is less frequent among older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of healthcare workers who have used CGM in the follow-up of glucose levels in older people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes living in nursing homes or receiving home healthcare services. The study had a qualitative design, and four focus group interviews with a total of 16 healthcare workers were conducted. The interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Through the analysis four themes with two or three subthemes each, were identified. The themes were (1) “CGM affects the workday and provides an overview” (subthemes “Detects hypoglycaemia”, “CGM with tracking function would be resource-saving” and “Varied experience with alarm function and trend arrows”); (2) “Practical training is important, but not sufficient” (subthemes: “Theoretical diabetes knowledge is a prerequisite for the full utilization of CGM” and “Access to a diabetes nurse is perceived as valuable and reassuring”); (3) “Improved dialogue and increased ability to participate in activities” (subthemes: “Avoids painful pricks which disrupts the dialogue”, “Increased focus on the patient” and “Less equipment to carry” and (4) “Changed roles and distribution of responsibilities” (subthemes: “Increased understanding of glucose values creates a sense of security” and “More independent patients and more reassured relatives”. This study revealed that CGM positively affected the workday of healthcare workers, the follow-up of patients, and the use of resources. The participants experienced that the use of CGM improved the dialogue between healthcare workers and patients and contributed to patients becoming more independent. However, increased knowledge about diabetes and CGM among healthcare workers is crucial to optimize the utilization of the CGM technology.