The NST researches new areas

At the end of November, four employees at the NST were given the go-ahead from the telemedicine research committee of the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority to start with new PhD projects in 2005. A common denominator for the projects is that they focus on electronic tools that can support users' capacity to make the most of their own resources, to improve their mastery of their own life situation and health.

- "We regard it as positive that funds have been granted for research in areas such as substance abuse and young people's psychological health. Perhaps the fact that research projects with a preventive focus have been chosen is also a signal from the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority. It shows that the prevention aspect is taken seriously," say Marianne Trondsen and Trond Nergaard Bjerke.

During the next four years, the two NST researchers will respectively explore: "The Internet as a prevention arena for young people at risk" and "Experience with self-help groups which meet physically and on the Internet" (related to substance abuse). Both research projects are in line with the overall commitment of the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority to the areas of substance abuse and psychological health.

The Ph.D. research scholars Eirik Årsand and Silje C. Wangberg focus on people with type 2 diabetes, but with slightly different approaches and problem formulations.

- "I want to find out about the effects of giving people personalized information and the possibility to see relationships between lifestyle and health graphically through electronic tools on PCs and mobile telephones. Can this contribute to a stronger sense that you can actually do something positive for your health yourself, and to greater motivation for lifestyle changes - in the longer term as well?" asks Silje C. Wangberg.

Eirik Årsand is to explore the potential that mobile digital tools may have for self-help in making lifestyle changes. Digital tools for lifestyle changes and prevention of illness are today primarily based on personal computers (PCs) combined with the Internet or CD-ROMs. - "Future tools should be as simple and mobile as possible: we should be able to integrate them in our everyday lives. Mobile telephones are becoming more and more powerful with greater functionality and larger displays, and will be the platform for this PhD project. Research will be conducted at both system and user level," says Årsand.

Four different fields are reflected in the approaches taken by the doctoral candidates at the NST to their research projects. Backgrounds from technology, psychology, sociology and teaching provide evidence of a multidisciplinary approach and a breadth in the NST's research community that is both unique and exciting.

- "We are proud, and our expectations are strong. The Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine produces competence that will in turn lead to good health services to users, regardless of time and place. "These doctorates provide sound support for this vision," confirms Steinar Pedersen, who heads the centre.

Contacts:

Trond Nergaard Bjerke Mobile: +47 905 19 492, trond.nergaard.bjerke@telemed.no

Marianne Trondsen Mobile: +47 415 10 792, marianne.trondsen@telemed.no

Eirik Årsand Mobile: +47 992 43 592, Eirik.Arsand@telemed.no

Silje Camilla Wangberg Mobile: +47 957 44 158, silje.camilla.wangberg@telemed.no

Hilde Pettersen, Information Manager Mobile: +47 991 03 794, hilde.pettersen@telemed.no

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