Retrospective Pilot Feedback Survey of 200 Users of the AIDA Version 4 Educational Diabetes Program

This column continues the report of a detailed, questionnaire-based, post-release feedback survey of 200 users of the AIDA version 4 educational diabetes simulator. AIDA is a software program—available without charge from www.2aida.org—that permits the interactive simulation of plasma insulin and blood glucose profiles for educational, demonstration, self-learning, and research purposes. The main goals of the questionnaire-based survey were: (i) to establish what people have thought about the AIDA software, (ii) to assess the utility of the program, and (iii) to ascertain how much people have actually used it. Three ancillary study objectives were: (a) to identify any problems that users may have experienced with the software since its launch, with the intention being for any critical problems to be addressed in future upgrades; (b) to identify features that users felt were important to have incorporated in later releases of the program; and (c) to establish the feasibility of undertaking such a post-release diabetes software survey primarily via electronic mail. In Part 1 of this column (Diabetes Technol Ther 2006;8:419–432) an analysis was undertaken of quantitative data from the first 200 feedback forms that were returned by AIDA users. In Part 2 of the column (Diabetes Technol Ther 2006;8:602–608) qualitative feedback comments left by users as part of the questionnaire-based survey were overviewed. The present column discusses the findings of the survey and highlights issues for future consideration. One concept that is introduced is the drug paradigm for assessment of medical software. Even after a drug has been tested, evaluated, and released—pharmaceutical firms still have systems in place to monitor usage and any complications. It is proposed that similar concepts should apply for medical informatics tools and software—with post-release monitoring of programs taking place routinely. This approach is exemplified for the AIDA software by data from the current post-release monitoring survey. 1Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2Department of Imaging (MRU), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (NHLI), Royal Brompton Hospital; 3St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospitals Medical School; and 4Guy’s, King’s & St. Thomas’ Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom. The AIDA software referred to in this report is an independent, noncommercial development that is being made available free-of-charge via the Internet—at a dot org (.org) not-for-profit Website—as a noncommercial contribution to continuing diabetes education. Dr. Lehmann is a co-developer of the AIDA diabetes simulator, and Webmaster of the www.2aida.org Website. Diabetes Information Technology & WebWatch