Quantified Health: A Feasibility Study on a Sensor-Based Feedback and Assistance System in Cardiology, Oncology and Orthopaedics

This paper reports the results of the Quantified Health project that developed a complex, digitally supported intervention. The project provides insights into how a sensor-based system can be organizationally integrated into the existing workflows of everyday treatment. The concluding pilot study took place in three medical facilities and addressed patients of orthopaedic, oncologic and cardiologic diseases in an in- or outpatient therapeutic setting. As a study result from the user's perspective, it is very appreciated to objectify the patient’s health related behavior. Care providers considered it positive that they received more data from patients' everyday lives and that the improved data situation can lead to more sustainable care. On the other side, the time required to integrate a new digital application into the tightly scheduled daily treatment routine was perceived as a hindering factor. Nevertheless, the results of the study show that a more generic sensor-based assistance system could be used for different diseases and cross sectoral. Furthermore, the constant contact with therapists increases patients' motivation to engage in health-preserving activities (self-regulation).