Unpacking Peer Conversations in a Virtual Communitiy for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support: Behavior Science and Linguistics Perspective

Diabetes is a chronic disease that can be effectively managed and controlled using strategies such as self-management education and ongoing support. Virtual environments offer innovative and realistic settings where patients can achieve self-management education and obtain ongoing self-management support from peers and healthcare professionals. Transcribed real-time conversations in an innovative virtual community were analyzed using qualitative and linguistic analysis. These virtual interactions were manually coded to identify embedded behavior change techniques and linguistic features. Results showed 13 behavior change techniques were manifested. Further, language differences were observed between behavior change techniques and social support types. Our research can provide valuable insights into the design of effective digital health interventions that maximize sustained use of virtual environments, subsequently impacting self-management of chronic conditions such as diabetes.