ABSTRACT
The successful use of blood glucose meters (BGMs) in diabetes self-management amongst older adults is becoming increasingly important. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for approximately 90% -95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes in the U. S . , is a common problem in older adults and minorities . There is sufficient evidence that BGMs are not easy to use . Although there arc culturally-centered diabetes education programs, limited research has assessed the relationship between ethnicity and usability of BGMs. This pilot study explored how the usability of BGMs varied among European-Americans and African-Americans. In two product interactive focus groups with older adults, two BGMs were compared on three tasks to evaluate usability. In addition, the Medical Technology Innovativeness (MTI) questionnaire
was administered. Results indicated that ethnicity may be a significant factor in the usability of BGMs. However, there were no significant differences in perceptions of MTI. Understanding the association between ethnicity and usability of blood glucosc meters is fundamental to addressing the technology-bas cd factors that contribute to cultural disparities in diabetes self-management.
