WANTED! – Virtual Coach for People with Thorny Diseases

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to propose a concept for a virtual coach to be used by people who suffer from costly and challenging diseases such as dementia, depression, diabetes and cardiac related issues, and by their caretakers presenting healthcare service providers or family members of the people suffering from the named diseases. Those listed diseases form almost an unbearable burden for individual persons, their next-of-kin, and those providing health services. The construction of the concept was based on earlier knowledge, and guidelines proposed for design science research were applied. The proposed concept is to sketch a virtual coach that utilizes sensor-based data and written diaries, and that helps patients and their caretakers to get accurate and individual information to support everyday life and healthcare.