PathMate: Effects of Ubiquitous Healthcare Information Systems on Performance of Obesity Expert and Teenager Teams

Limited personnel resources and costs have a negative impact on the health supply in obesity therapy and prevention programs for teenagers. However, multi-professional and moderate to high-intensity interventions are strongly recommended to have positive effects on outcomes.

This project has therefore the objective to build and evaluate a Ubiquitous Healthcare Information System (UHIS) that has direct effects on the performance of obesity expert and teenager teams and indirect effects on the outcomes of obesity programs in Switzerland.

It will be investigated how to design UHIS collaboratively with obesity experts and obese teenagers by applying design science research. During the evaluation phase, special emphasis is given to the investigation of direct effects of UHIS on the communication, collaboration and mutual understanding between obesity experts and teenagers. The effects on group performance are measured by group cohesion and group commitment. Furthermore, indirect effects on general obesity program outcomes will be investigated.

Direct and indirect effects of the UHIS are evaluated by pre-tests and two in-depth longitudinal case studies with teenagers as part of an exiting individual obesity therapy at Ostschweizer Kinderspital in St. Gallen and an obesity prevention program at the Gymnasium du Bugnon in Lausanne led by the University of Lausanne. Thus, the UHIS will be available in German- and French­speaking versions at the end of the project. Finally, recommendations are discussed for improved obesity programs and a special emphasis will be given on the broader impact of team performance enhanced by UHIS on therapy outcomes of other diseases.