Content Validation of an Electronic Health Record–Based Diabetes Self-Management Support Tool for Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Qualitative Study

Abstract BackgroundOlder adults with diabetes frequently access their electronic health record (EHR) notes but often report difficulty understanding medical jargon and nonspecific self-care instructions. To address this communication gap, we developed Support-Engage-Empower-Diabetes (SEE-Diabetes), a patient-centered, EHR-integrated diabetes self-management support tool designed to embed tailored educational statements within the assessment and plan section of clinical notes. ObjectiveThis study aimed to validate the clarity, relevance, and alignment of SEE-Diabetes content with the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists 7 Self-Care Behaviors framework from the perspectives of older adults and clinicians. MethodsAn interdisciplinary team conducted expert reviews and qualitative interviews with 11 older adults with diabetes and 8 clinicians practicing in primary care (family medicine) and specialty diabetes care settings at a Midwestern academic health center. Patients evaluated the readability and relevance of the content, while clinicians assessed clarity, sufficiency, and potential clinical utility. Interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. ResultsPatients (mean age 72, SD 4.9 y; mean diabetes duration 26, SD 15 y) reported that the SEE-Diabetes statements were clear, relevant, and written in plain language that supported understanding of self-care recommendations. Clinicians (mean 13, SD 9.5 y of diabetes care experience) viewed the content as concise, clinically appropriate, and well aligned with patient self-management goals and the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists 7 Self-Care Behaviors framework. Both groups identified the tool’s potential to enhance patient engagement and patient-clinician communication, while noting opportunities to improve the specificity of language, particularly within medication-related content. ConclusionsSEE-Diabetes demonstrated content validity as a practical, patient-centered digital health tool for supporting diabetes self-management communication within EHR clinical notes. The findings support its use as a complementary approach to reinforce self-care communication in routine clinical practice and highlight areas for refinement to enhance personalization.