Use of cultural probes for representation of chronic disease experience: exploration of an innovative method for design of supportive technologies.

Chronic diseases do not only manifest themselves as sets of pathophysiological factors. They bring about an equally important psychosocial impact. Unfortunately, it is difficult to account for this impact in the development of supportive technologies.

Towards integration of computer games in interactive health education environments: understanding gameplay challenge, narrative and spectacle.

Context: There is an alarming progress in the health status of the young in western countries, and new methods and tools for behavioural health interventions are urgently called for.

Objective: To explore how computer game designs can be integrated in the development of Interactive Health Education Environments.

Design: Qualitative analyses of adolescents' experiences of playing an action-adventure computer game, using data from in-depth interviews.

Design of interactive health drama built on social realism.

There are many psychosocial aspects of chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Educational multimedia can support patients with chronic diseases and their families by communicating narratives based on social realism. The production of such socio-realistic interactive health dramas requires systematic methods, especially for the identification of significant stories.

A Web-based patient information system--identification of patients' information needs.

Research described here was carried out to explore possibilities of creating a web-based patient information system within the areas of thoracic surgery. Data were collected to distinguish and assess the actual information needs of patients (1) prior to surgical treatment, (2) before discharge, and (3) 8 months after the hospitalization using a follow-up questionnaire. Interviews were performed with patients undergoing heart surgery.