Promoting exercise training and physical activity in daily life: a feasibility study of a virtual group intervention for behaviour change in COPD.

Background: Physical inactivity is associated with poor health outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is therefore crucial for patients to have a physically active lifestyle. The aims of this feasibility study were to assess a tablet-based physical activity behavioural intervention in virtual groups for COPD regarding 1) patients' acceptance 2) technology usability 3) patients' exercise programme adherence and 4) changes in patients' physical activity level.

Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation in home-based online groups: a mixed method pilot study in COPD.

Background: Comprehensive multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation is vital in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is considered for any stage of the disease. Rehabilitation programmes are often centre-based and organised in groups. However, the distance from the patient's home to the centre and lack of transportation may hinder participation.

Privacy and information security risks in a technology platform for home-based chronic disease rehabilitation and education.

Background: Privacy and information security are important for all healthcare services, including home-based services. We have designed and implemented a prototype technology platform for providing home-based healthcare services. It supports a personal electronic health diary and enables secure and reliable communication and interaction with peers and healthcare personnel.

Internet-enabled pulmonary rehabilitation and diabetes education in group settings at home: a preliminary study of patient acceptability.

Background: The prevalence of major chronic illnesses, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes, is increasing. Pulmonary rehabilitation and diabetes self-management education are important in the management of COPD and diabetes respectively. However, not everyone can participate in the programmes offered at a hospital or other central locations, for reasons such as travel and transport.

Personalized health applications in the Web 2.0: the emergence of a new approach.

Health consumers have embraced the web to obtain access to health information and to socialize and share knowledge with peers. Additionally, the web has become a more interactive and rich platform with the integration of health applications and services, such as Personal Health Records. Some of these applications provide personalized interactions based on user specific characteristics.

The MyHealthService approach for chronic disease management based on free open source software and low cost components.

In this paper we present an approach to building personal health services, supporting following-up, physical exercising, health education, and psychosocial support for the chronically ill, based on free open source software and low-cost computers, mobile devices, and consumer health and fitness devices. We argue that this will lower the cost of the systems, which is important given the increasing number of people with chronicle diseases and limited healthcare budgets.

An easy to use and affordable home-based personal eHealth system for chronic disease management based on free open source software.

This paper describes an easy to use home-based eHealth system for chronic disease management. We present the design and implementation of a prototype for home based education, exercises, treatment and following-up, with the TV and a remote control as user interface. We also briefly describe field trials of the system for patients with COPD and diabetes, and their experience with the technology.

Success and failure in Web-based medical collaboration.

A Web-based collaboration tool was developed for ophthalmologists, called Øyenet. A feasibility study was performed in 2000. The system was ready to use in 2001, but the usage of the system was disappointing, compared to the enthusiasm expressed in the feasibility study.