Background: EXPOsing diabetes is Diabetes Queensland’s flagship event; a face-to-face conference that equips attendees with knowledge and skills to live well with diabetes, run in six locations across Queensland each year. To address limitation in reach, Diabetes Queensland developed a website that mirrors the value of the face to face event, but is available to anyone at any time, on their preferred device. 

Aims: To determine if the EXPOsing diabetes website increases reach of information, is easy to use and interactive. Also, does the website increase knowledge and confidence, and assist visitors to enact behaviour change?

Methods: Google tracking, online quick-polls and focus group testing with people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes were conducted to assess changes in knowledge and confidence, behaviour, usability and interactivity, and to guide future content and development.

Results: The website has increased reach of diabetes information, with 7870 visits since going live in August 2014, on a range of different devices (desktop, tablet and mobile), when compared with face to face annual reach of 1200. Focus testing participants (n=18) agreed that tone of voice, accessibility and focus on empowerment gave them the sense of being the centre of their health care team, and the site provides resources to enact this.  Quick polls reveal that 70% and 52% of people either agree or strongly agree that the website improved their knowledge and confidence respectively (n= 21). A further 58% of people agree or strongly agree that the website will change the way they manage their diabetes (n=21).

Conclusion: EXPOsing diabetes is an effective online education resource which brings together key concepts of diabetes management in a widely accessible and interactive, yet simple format where people can build upon their existing knowledge and skills, at a pace, time and location that suits them.