Digital healthcare services could close gaps in healthcare provision. At the ZHAW, students learn to develop such tools, but also to view them critically.
During his inpatient stay at a psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic for burnout, Marcel is already being prepared for his return to everyday life. The specialist staff instruct him on how to recognize early warning symptoms, monitor them with an app and contact the therapist via online chat in the event of a relapse. "This means that further therapeutic support can begin early on and be seamlessly integrated into everyday life," explains health scientist Elke Weber. The aim of such digital health interventions is to improve healthcare for the population. These include not only apps, but also websites, online consultations and telemedicine platforms on which doctors can forward and discuss data such as X-ray images or laboratory results. "Digital services are a great opportunity to bridge waiting times for a consultation or to support patients between therapy sessions with health education," explains Weber.
The research assistant teaches the module "Fundamentals of digital health literacy and interventions" at the ZHAW. Offered by the Interprofessional Teaching Unit, it is open to future midwives and prospective specialists in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, health promotion and nursing. "This gives us the opportunity to practice and understand interdisciplinary collaboration - which contributes significantly to the success of a treatment or consultation," says Weber.
Increase the skills of users
In three teaching units, it strengthens students' ability to use and develop digital services themselves. Digital health literacy forms the basis for all digital interventions: "We need to enable people to find and understand reliable health information online and use it for their own health behavior," explains Weber. The health scientist observes that the number of apps and websites is increasing rapidly, while vulnerable groups such as young people or older people in particular have difficulty recognizing and benefiting from trustworthy offers.
You can be sure if you do your own research
That is why the health promoter is particularly keen for students to understand how trust and acceptance of new digital tools develop online. She therefore introduces her students to online trust and acceptance research and has them critically examine existing digital health services: Does the service seem professional to me? Is there an imprint? Do the service providers listed there have the appropriate qualifications? "Such research should always precede the use of eHealth," says Weber.
Conclusion with own projects
Finally, the students worked in interdisciplinary groups to develop their own ideas for digital health interventions, which they presented on a scientific poster. One group combined digital and face-to-face services, for example for a website that provides information to young people and pregnant women with an addiction, but also offers social exchange via chat functions or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. "Together against loneliness" was the name of another team's proposal. It used online channels to inspire pensioners to go for walks together. The accompanied excursions promote physical and mental well-being by strengthening the sense of belonging and facilitating new contacts.
Working on their own project made it possible to apply the basics they had learned and to reflect on the specific needs of the target group. "In the field of digital health, sound scientific groundwork is essential in order to be able to develop offers that are as tailored as possible," explains Weber.
Opportunity for rural areas
Digital health interventions open up new access to healthcare, especially in rural areas. "In rural areas, healthcare provision and infrastructure are tending to decline and residents are having to travel increasingly long distances to healthcare facilities," says Weber. In the coming fall semester, she will therefore be offering an advanced module dedicated to digital services for rural Switzerland. Students will also analyze the specific resources of rural areas. "In the countryside, for example, community life is more active," Weber explains. "This is an opportunity to introduce people to digital tools and build trust."