Co‐Designing a Multimodal Physical Activity Intervention for Individuals With Young‐Onset Type 2 Diabetes (18–40 Years) in China

ABSTRACT Background A limited number of physical activity programmes exist for Chinese people with young‐onset (18–40 years) type 2 diabetes amid its rising global prevalence. This study aims to develop a multimodal intervention for improving physical activity levels for individuals with young‐onset type 2 diabetes using co‐design. Methods The development process included three stages. Stage 1 involved synthesising the findings of a review of existing physical activity interventions and a qualitative study of exercise experiences of young adults with type 2 diabetes. This generated a list of candidate intervention elements and behaviour change techniques to inform the co‐design process. Stage 2 involved the development of animated trigger films, using findings from stage 1, to present the physical activity experiences of people with young‐onset type 2 diabetes. In stage 3, a series of co‐design workshops engaging relevant stakeholders were conducted, utilising the outputs from the previous two stages and aligning with the Design Thinking theory. Results Twenty‐five participants (12 young adults with type 2 diabetes, 12 healthcare professionals, and one family member) attended co‐design workshops to develop the intervention. The co‐design process resulted in a logic model for a tailored programme–IPAYD (Improving Physical Activity in people with Young‐onset type 2 Diabetes). This programme integrates behaviour change techniques across four elements: individualised goal setting and planning, exercise monitoring, a peer support forum, and educational resources. An eHealth platform was preferred to deliver the programme, incorporating one‐to‐one consultations and optional group sessions to enhance social support and social interaction. Conclusions Through stakeholder engagement in a co‐design process, this study makes a novel and much‐needed contribution to developing a physical activity intervention for Chinese people with young‐onset type 2 diabetes. Patient and Public Contribution An advisory group of six Chinese young people with type 2 diabetes met online and communicated through a project‐focused WeChat group. They contributed to the animated film scripts, the topic guide of the workshops, the design of the intervention materials, and how to conduct the workshops to align with Chinese culture.