Zurich-based non-profit independent foundation, The Digital Health Engagement Institute (DHEI), has launched its research institute for digital health engagement tools and digital health benchmarking.

DHEI has gathered professors and experts in the fields of gamification, behavioural science, big data, and healthcare data handling with the aim of making digital health accessible and beneficial to consumers.

WHY IT MATTERS

A key area of focus for the institute will be how to motivate both healthy and at-risk populations to take ownership and be proactive about their health outcomes.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs currently account for 41 million deaths yearly around the globe, which is equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.

With NCDs on the rise, the DHEI aims to help tackle this problem through digital health tools – such as digital health engagement platforms, wellbeing apps or lifestyle navigators.

The institute will also investigate into new engagement approaches, to keep users involved with their health long-term

The DHEI’s vision is to be an established institution in research among the fields of digital health engagement technologies and wellbeing platforms. It also aims to seek valuable knowledge about how digital health engagement can benefit consumers’ health around the globe.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

In recent news, Polish and Norwegian scientists and health personnel have planned to collaborate on the Polenprosjektet project, an initiative launched to equalise access to health services for impoverished groups in remote areas in Poland.

ON THE RECORD

Peter Ohnemus, founder and chair of the DHEI, said: “In my opinion, the most pressing issues to humanity right now are global warming and NCD prevalence, hence why we felt the need to create the DHEI. Through the institute, we aim to focus on prevention rather than treatment, since NCDs are largely derived from modifiable lifestyle choices, such as harmful alcohol or nicotine intake, lack of physical activity and an unhealthy diet.

“We strive for a world where everybody has access to better health outcomes through digital health engagement platforms. We want to empower everybody to achieve their full health potential."