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Introduction to Digital Health
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:07:55
Abstract
Digital Health is the use of information and communication technology for the prevention, management and treatment of diseases. It covers topics such as digital health interventions (DHIs), digital biomarker research, digital coaches and healthcare chatbots, telemedicine, mobile and wearable computing, self-tracking, personalised medicine, connected health, smart homes or smart cars.
Objective
At the intersection of information systems research, computer science, behavioural medicine, and health economics, this CAS module has the objective of helping participants better understand the relevance and key characteristics of DHIs. After the course, students will be able to: 1. understand the relevance of DHIs for the prevention and management non-communicable diseases (NCDs) 2. understand key characteristics of digital health interventions (e.g., states of vulnerability and receptivity, digital biomarker, health care chatbots and voice assistants) 3. understand digital health business models.
Content
The first module of the CAS in Digital Health provides an overview of the global epidemic of non-communicable disease (NCDs). Digital Health interventions (DHIs) are introduced as one approach of offering better support and treatment to people affected by NCDs. How can DHIs be leveraged in healthcare and in private capacity? To this end, the most important business models for DHIs are analyzed. The topics are: 1. The health and economic burden of NCDs 2. Key characteristics of of DHIs 3. Business models for DHIs This CAS module consists of live sessions and complementary online lessons. Live input sessions are used to introduce and discuss the course topics. Complementary learning material (e.g., video and audio clips), multiple-choice questions and individual exercises are provided online to deepen the knowledge acquired in the input sessions.
Resources
Literature
1. Cohen AB Dorsey ER Mathews SC et al. (2020) A digital health industry cohort across the health continuum Nature Digital Medicine 3(68), 10.1038/s41746‐020‐0276‐9 2. Collins LM (2018) Optimization of Behavioral, Biobehavioral, and Biomedical Interventions: The Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) New York: Springer, 10.1007/978-3-319-72206-1 3. Coravos A. Khozin S. and K. D. Mandl (2019) Developing and Adopting Safe and Effective Digital Biomarkers to Improve Patient Outcomes Nature Digital Medicine 2 Paper 14, 10.1038/s41746‐019‐0090‐4 4. Fleisch E Franz C Herrmann A (2021) The Digital Pill: What Everyone Should Know about the Future of Our Healthcare System, Emerald Publishing: Bingley,UK, 10.1108/9781787566750 5. Katz DL Frates EP Bonnet JP Gupta SK Vartiainen E and Carmona RH (2018) Lifestyle as Medicine: The Case for a True Health Initiative American Journal of Health Promotion 32(6), 1452-1458, 10.1177/0890117117705949 6. Kvedar, JC, Fogel AL, Elenko E and Zohar D (2016) Digital medicine’s march on chronic disease Nature Biotechnology 34(3), 239-246, 10.1038/nbt.3495 7. Kowatsch T Otto L Harperink S Cotti A Schlieter H (2019) A Design and Evaluation Framework for Digital Health Interventions it ‐ Information Technology 61(5‐6), 253‐263, 10.1515/itit‐2019‐0019 8. Kowatsch T Fleisch E (2021) Digital Health Interventions, in: Gassmann O Ferrandina F (eds): Connected Business: Creating Value in the Networked Economy, Springer: Berlin, 10.1007/978-3-030-76897-3_4 9. Kowatsch T Schachner T Harperink S et al (2021) Conversational Agents as Mediating Social Actors in Chronic Disease Management Involving Health Care Professionals, Patients, and Family Members: Multisite Single-Arm Feasibility Study, Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) 23(2):e25060 10.2196/25060 10. Kowatsch T Lohse KM Erb V et al (2021) Hybrid Ubiquitous Coaching With a Novel Combination of Mobile and Holographic Conversational Agents Targeting Adherence to Home Exercises: 4 Design and Evaluation Studies, Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) 23(2):e23612, 10.2196/23612 11. Nahum‐Shani I Smith SN Spring BJ Collins LM Witkiewitz K Tewari A Murphy SA (2018) Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) in Mobile Health: Key Components and Design Principles for Ongoing Health Behavior Support, Annals of Behavioral Medicine 52 (6), 446‐462, 10.1007/s12160-016-9830-8 12. Sim, I. (2019) Mobile Devices and Health, The New England Journal of Medicine, 381(10), 956‐ 968, 10.1056/NEJMra1806949
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- WBZ
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Registration & Places
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise |
Introduction to Digital Health
1. Introduction to Digital Health: Mo/Tue - 07.02 2022, 09:30 - 19:00 / 08.02.2022, 07:30 - 16:00 (2-Day Kick-Off Workshop, on-site in the mountains)
2. Key characteristics of DHIs: Freitag, 18.02.2022, 13:00 – 17:00 (online via Zoom)
3. Business models for DHIs: Freitag, 4.03.2022, 15:00 – 17:00 (online via Zoom)
|
No time listed | 19 h semesterly |