E-health and welfare technology
- Department DART
- Fields involved Digital Inclusion
- Industries involved Health, Community
At NR, we research and develop e-health and welfare technologies, focusing many of our projects on patient-user experiences with assistive devices, along with insights from healthcare personnel and caretakers. As rapidly growing fields, e-health and welfare technology hold immense potential for providing equitable healthcare solutions that contribute to enhanced safety, participation and mobility. Our researchers are committed to creating services and solutions that emphasise ethics, privacy, and digital security.
E-health and assistive technology in ICT
E-health and welfare technology is a broad and complex field encompassing numerous research topics. Our research focuses particularly on assistive and adaptive ICT technologies, benefiting from close collaborations with other research groups at the institute, namely: Digital Transformation, Privacy and Security, and Digital Inclusion. Each group contributes unique perspectives and approaches, enhancing our work in this field.
Advancing digital health literacy and self-management tools
We are committed to ensuring equal access to healthcare services and fostering positive patient and user experiences, while remaining attentive to ethical considerations, privacy issues, and secure digital solutions.
Many of our projects focus on enhancing individuals’ digital health skills and empowering them to take charge of their own health. This involves supporting the processes of searching for, understanding, assessing and using health information from electronic sources, as well as using electronic tools to monitor their own health status. Central elements in our work include user-friendliness, universal design and training.
Our research is also oriented towards advancing knowledge and methods that can lead to better products and services, such as e-consultations, self-service solutions, self-monitoring of health metrics and personal health management.
Our goal is to actively promote self-mastery and reduce feelings of alienation, ultimately improving quality of life for all involved, including relatives and other caregivers.
NR’s services in e-health and welfare technology
We offer a range of services in e-health and welfare technology, including:
- Technology consulting
- Mapping health needs and prerequisites, and developing functional system requirements
- Implementing prototypes and producing relevant content
- Evaluating and testing prototypes using appropriate methodologies, and measuring user experience and treatment impact
- Conducting follow-up research, documenting findings and publishing in peer-reviewed channels.
Current projects
Other projects
Close the Gap – Simulation-based training for collaboration within and between health services (2021-2026) (external link to the Project Bank)
The project aims to improve patient flow and safety by bridging the competency gap between state and municipal healthcare services. By developing simulation-based training scenarios that combine physical and virtual elements with current workflows, Close the Gap focuses on enhancing collaboration skills, producing reusable training content and utilising digital tools to support practical learning.
Capable – Empower citizens to active use of their health information (2018-2022) (external link to the Project Bank)
Capable explored how individuals can leverage personal health information to enhance their health and manage illness. The project focused particularly on challenges related to medication management, nutrition, and coordinating healthcare appointments.
Innsikt – Inclusive user participation to co-create trusted, evidence based, interactive digital citizen services (2018-2021) (external link to the Project Bank)
The network developed R&D capacity and co-creation methodologies for inclusive user participation, with a particular focus on digitalization challenges for vulnerable groups. This collaboration has laid the foundation for long-term partnerships and further development of methodologies and digital services that support communication and self-management in personal health and welfare.
Moskus – MObile musculoSKeletal User Self-management (2013-2015) (external link to the Project Bank)
The Moskus project developed digital tools for individuals with Spondyloarthritis (SpA) to manage their condition at home. Tools included a patient diary app, a sensor to track exercises, and a cloud service for storing and sharing data with healthcare providers.
To learn more about e-health and welfare technology at NR, please contact:
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our work aligns with several of the UN’s sustainability goals. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Bring and Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities are particularly central, as we are committed to promoting equitable healthcare services, ensuring equal access for all, and reducing discriminatory practices. Additionally, Goal 17: Partnerships for Goals is relevant, especially the points focused on adaptive technology and ICT.
