Table 1
Summary of the four do-it-yourself (DIY) medical movements described in this section.
| DIY MEDICAL MOVEMENT | POPULATION | ACCESS BARRIER | DIY ACTIVITY | RELEVANT MEDICAL SPECIALTY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY neurostimulation | Individuals with depression, anxiety, and ADHD; healthy individuals | Technology still experimental | Building at-home neurostimulation devices and stimulating their brains with electricity | Neurology and Psychiatry |
| DIY fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) | Individuals suffering from recurrent intestinal infections | Technique not available outside of limited clinical trials | Procuring donor stool from family, friends, and/or online sellers, and transplanting into their colons | Infectious disease and Gastroenterology |
| DIY diabetes movements | Type 1 diabetes patients and their caregivers | Specific technology (automated insulin delivery system) did not exist | Hacking into their glucose monitors and insulin pumps to create automated insulin delivery systems | Endocrinology |
| DIY hormone replacement therapy (HRT) | Transgender individuals | Stigma; cost; lack of access to provider with relevant expertise | Sourcing and self-administering hormones | Endocrinology |