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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Improving nutritional intake of hospital patients using a persuasive tablet application

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2012

Submitted on

Pages

114

Abstract

Formålet med dette projekt var at hjælpe hospitalspatienter med at få dækket deres ernæringsbehov ved hjælp af en tablet-app. Omkring 40% af hospitalspatienter er underernærede, hvilket er forbundet med komplikationer, længere indlæggelser og højere omkostninger. Vi lavede en kort litteraturgennemgang af eksisterende tiltag mod underernæring på hospitaler og brugte teorier om overtalende teknologi—designgreb, der kan støtte og motivere adfærdsændringer—som grundlag for appens design. En iPad-prototype blev udviklet, afprøvet i en brugervenlighedstest og derefter forbedret. Den færdige app blev implementeret og testet på et dansk hospital med elleve patienter. Studiet viste ingen signifikant ændring i patienternes ernæringsindtag ved brug af appen. Til gengæld viste spørgeskemaer og interviews, at patienter fandt appen nyttig, og at den gav dem bedre indsigt i deres indtag.

This project aimed to help hospital patients meet their nutritional needs using a tablet app. About 40% of hospital patients are malnourished, which is linked to complications, longer stays, and higher costs. The team conducted a brief literature review of existing hospital approaches and drew on theories of persuasive technology—design features that encourage and support behavior change—to guide the app’s design. An iPad prototype was created, evaluated in a usability study, and refined. The final app was implemented and tested with eleven patients in a Danish hospital. The study found no significant change in patients' nutritional intake when using the app. However, questionnaire and interview data indicated that patients found the app helpful and that it increased their awareness of their intake.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]