Co-design of an animated resource to understand inequities in access to diabetes technologies among children and young people with type 1 diabetes from ethnic minority groups and/or low socioeconomic areas

This study aimed to explore barriers to diabetes technology access and co-create an educational animation to address them. Guided by a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach and the Generative Co-Design Framework for Healthcare Innovation, the study followed three stages: Pre-Design, Co-Design, and Post-Design. It built on prior qualitative research and was shaped by input from an advisory panel. Co-design workshops informed the animation’s content and style. A total of 16 participants were involved: 6 (2 parents, 4 young people) contributed to advisory sessions, and 10 (5 parents, 5 children and young people) participated in co-design workshops. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Key barriers included misconceptions about cost, limited awareness of NHS-funded technologies, and emotional and financial burdens. Participants emphasised the importance of diverse representation, accessible language, and engaging visuals to ensure the animation resonated with a wide audience, including healthcare professionals, families, educators, and policymakers. Post-design evaluation confirmed its effectiveness. Guided by collaborative principles, the co-designed animation is a valuable tool for raising awareness and promoting equitable access to diabetes technology. Future research should explore broader implementation and standardisation of such educational tools across NHS services. • Key barriers to diabetes technology access included misconceptions about cost, limited awareness of NHS-funded options, and emotional and financial burdens. • Participants emphasised the importance of diverse representation, accessible language, and engaging visuals in educational tools. • The co-designed animation was found to be effective in raising awareness and resonated with families, healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers. • The animation supports efforts to promote equitable access to diabetes technology across communities.