Digital Health Community Hagen

Close-up photo of the torso and arms of a female doctor. The picture is overlaid with bright graphic images of medical items and symbols Photo: Metamorworks/iStock-GettyImages

The Digital Health Community Hagen addresses issues related to healthcare digitalization, contributing to improved care and prevention through digital solutions. A series of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and development projects focus on creating digital solutions for existing problems and supporting and shaping their implementation.

The project also focuses on increasing the acceptance of digital technologies, promoting the adoption of digital solutions, sharing experiences, and always directly addressing practical challenges.

Community members

Prof. Dr. Jenny S. Wesche Photo: Bernd Wannenmacher

Prof. Dr. Jenny S. Wesche

Spokesperson

Email: jenny.wesche

Phone: +49 2331 987–4643

Research Professorships

Dr. Anita Mörth Photo: FernUniversität

Dr. Anita Mörth

Coordinator

Email: digital.health

Phone: +49 2331 987–4134

 

Philosophy of Medicine and Technology

Prof. Dr. Dr. Orsolya Friedrich Photo: Volker Wiciok

Prof. Dr. Dr. Orsolya Friedrich

Email: orsolya.friedrich

Phone: +49 2331 987–4122

Chair of Philosophy IV: Philosophy of medicine and technology

Dr. Sebastian Schleidgen Photo: Hardy Welsch

Dr. Sebastian Schleidgen

Email: sebastian.schleidgen

Chair of Philosophy IV: Philosophy of medicine and technology

Keywords

Artificial intelligence, algorithmic decision-making, human-machine-interaction, patient-doctor-relationship, neurotechnology, social robots

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • AI applications in medicine: Epistemic and normative questions
  • New qualities of interaction between humans and machines
  • Philosophical implications of the use of neurotechnologies
  • Relationship between basic conceptual assumptions, technological developments and normative issues
  • New forms of (self-)understanding and their (normative) consequences
  • Implications of new technologies for relationships between doctors and patients and for social processes

Selected publications

  • Heinrichs J-H., Beck B., & Friedrich O. (eds.). (2024). Neuro-ProsthEthics. Ethical Implications of Applied Situated Cognition. Metzler.
  • Friedrich O., Seifert J., & Schleidgen S. (eds.). (2023). Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion – Konzeptionelle, soziale und ethische Implikationen neuer Mensch-Technik-Verhältnisse. mentis.
  • Schleidgen S., & Friedrich O. (eds.). (2023). Special issue „Künstliche Intelligenz in Medizin und Pflege“, Ethik in der Medizin, 35(2).
  • Friedrich O., Schleidgen S., & Wolkenstein A. (Eds.). (2022). Topical collection “Information in interactions between humans and machines”, Philosophy & Technology.
  • Friedrich O., & Bozzaro C. (eds.) (2021): Philosophie der Medizin. mentis.
  • Friedrich O., Wolkenstein A., Bublitz C., Jox R. J., & Racine, E. (eds.). (2021): Clinical neuroethics meets artificial intelligence – Philosophical, ethical, legal and social implications. Springer.

Health Psychology

Prof. Dr. Christel Salewski Photo: Volker Wiciok

Prof. Dr. Christel Salewski

Email: christel.salewski

Phone: +49 2331 987–4875

Chair of Health Psychology (DE)

Keywords

Technology acceptance, tailored stress management applications, digital health promotion

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • Acceptance of digital health applications
  • Target group-specific stress management apps
  • Digital health promotion

Selected publications

  • Salewski, C., & Schnädter, S. (2024). Digitale Gesundheitsförderung an Hochschulen. Public Health Forum, 32(2), 145–148. https://doi.org/10.1515/pubhef-2024-0020
  • Salewski, C., Kemper, J., Santangelo, P., & Apolinário-Hagen, J. (2023). Studentisches Gesundheitsmanagement in der Fernuniversität durch digitale Tools – Das Projekt Die Gesundheit Fernstudierender stärken. In C. Dockweiler, A.L. Stark & J. Albrecht (Hrsg.), Settingbezogene Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention in der digitalen Transformation (pp. 249–269). Nomos. http://dx.doi.org/10.5771/9783748913641-249
  • Apolinário- Hagen, J., Fritsche, L., Wopperer, J., Wals, F., Harrer, M., Lehr, D., Ebert, D. D., & Salewski, C. (2021). Investigating the persuasive effects of testimonials on the acceptance of digital stress management trainings among university students and underlying mechanisms: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 12:738950. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.738950
  • Breil, B., Salewski, C., & Apolinário-Hagen, J. (2021). Comparing the acceptance of mobile hypertension apps for disease-management among patients versus clinical use among physicians: Cross-sectional survey. JMIR Cardio, 6(1):e31617. https://doi.org/10.2196/31617
  • Harrer, M., Apolinário-Hagen, J., Fritsche, L., Salewski, C., Zarski, A.-C., Lehr, D., Baumeister, H., Cuijpers, P., & Ebert, D. D. (2021). Effect of an internet-and app-based stress intervention compared to online psychoeducation in university students with depressive symptoms: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Internet Interventions, 24, 100374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100374

Psychology of Learning, Motivation and Emotion

Prof. Dr. Robert Gaschler Photo: Hardy Welsch

Prof. Dr. Robert Gaschler

Email: robert.gaschler

Chair of Psychology: Learning, Motivation and Emotion

Dr. Christina Ingwald Photo: Hardy Welsch

Dr. Christina Ingwald

Email: christina.weckwerth

Chair of Psychology: Learning, Motivation and Emotion

Keywords

Patient-centered technology, assistive communication devices, proactive patient communication, autonomy and well-being enhancement

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • How can eye-tracking technologies improve communication and the well-being of ventilated patients in intensive care units?
  • How does the use of digital communication aids in ICUs affect the interaction between patients, family members and medical staff?
  • What impact does the use of digital communication solutions in the intensive care unit have on the psychological adjustment and perceived quality of life of patients with spinal cord injury?

Selected publications

  • Ull, C., Weckwerth, C., Schildhauer, T. A., Hamsen, U., Gaschler, R., & Waydhas, C., & Jansen, O. (2020). First experiences of communication with mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit using eye-tracking technology. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 18(1), 44–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2020.1821106
  • Ull, C., Hamsen, U., Weckwerth, C., Schildhauer, T.A., Gaschler, R., Waydhas, C., & Jansen, O. (2021). Approach to the basic needs in patients on invasive ventilation using eye-tracking devices for non-verbal communication. Artificial Organs, 46(3), 439-450. https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.14082
  • Ull, C., Hamsen, U., Weckwerth, C., Schildhauer, T. A., Gaschler, R., Jansen, O., & Waydhas, C. (2021). The use of predefined scales and scores with eye-tracking devices for symptom identification in critically ill non-verbal patients. The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 92(4), 640–647. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000003494
  • Ull, C., Weckwerth, C., Hamsen, U., Jansen, O., Spieckermann, A., Schildhauer, T.A., Gaschler, R., & Waydhas, C. (2022). Development of the tracheostomy well-being score in critically ill patients. European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, 49, 981–990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-022-02120-9
  • Weckwerth, C., Waydhas, C., Hamsen, U., Cruciger, O., Spieckermann, A., Schildhauer, T. A., Aach, M., Gaschler, R., & Ull, C. (2024). Perceptions of critically ill individuals with acute and chronic spinal cord injury requiring a tracheostomy tube. Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 10, 12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-024-00624-7

Social psychology

Prof. Dr. Stefan Stürmer Photo: Hardy Welsch

Prof. Dr. Stefan Stürmer

Email: stefan.stuermer

Phone: +49 2331 987–2776

Chair of Social Psychology

Dr. Johanna Werner Photo: Hardy Welsch

Dr. Johanna Werner

Email: johanna.werner

Phone: +49 2331 987–4682

Chair of Social Psychology

Keywords

Acceptance of and trust in digital health applications, digital health promotion, e-Health, social barriers of digital health applications

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • Acceptance of digital health applications
  • Trust in digital health applications
  • Social barriers to digital health applications
  • What factors influence the acceptance and effectiveness of digital interventions?

Selected publications

  • Zinke, N., Lenski, S., Brocker, A., Merkt, M., Gropengießer, K., Stürmer, S., & Schröter, H. (2024). Towards Fair and Diversity-Appropriate E-assessments. In M. Sahin & D. Ifenthaler (Eds), Assessment Analytics in Education: Designs, Methods and Solutions (pp. 373–394). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56365-2_19
  • Siem, B., Kretzmeyer, B., & Stürmer, S. (2021). The role of self-evaluation in predicting attitudes toward supporters of COVID-19-related conspiracy theories: A direct and a conceptual replication of Cichocka et al. (2016). Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 15, https://doi.org/10.1177/18344909211052587
  • Mehnert, L., Siem, B., Stürmer, S., & Rohmann, A. (2017). The impact of client-counselor similarity on acceptance of counseling services for women living with HIV. AIDS care, 30(4), 461–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2017.1381329
  • Stürmer, S., Rohmann, A., Mazziotta, A., Siem, B., & Barbarino, M.-L. (2017). Fear of infection or justification of social exclusion? The symbolic exploitation of the Ebola epidemic. Political Psychology, 38(3), 499–513. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12354
  • Stürmer, S., & Siem, B. (2012). Civil society responses to the HIV/AIDS crisis: The role of social representations in shaping collective and individual action. In K. J. Jonas & T. A. Morton, Restoring civil societies: The psychology of intervention and engagement (pp. 237–249). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118347683.ch14

Business Psychology

Prof. Dr. Jenny S. Wesche Photo: Bernd Wannenmacher

Prof. Dr. Jenny S. Wesche

Email: jenny.wesche

Phone: +49 2331 987–4643

Chair of Business Psychology (DE)

Inka Krüger Photo: FernUniversität

Inka Krüger

Email: inka.krueger

Phone: +49 2331 987–2202

Chair of Business Psychology (DE)

Keywords

Digitization, automation, artificial intelligence, algorithmic decision-making, virtual interaction, work psychology, organizational psychology

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • How can human-centered technology meaningfully relieve the burden on people working in healthcare?
  • What changes will result from the integration of technology into the responsibilities, roles, tasks and workflows of people working in healthcare?
  • What changes will result from the integration of technology in social interactions and relationships between people working in healthcare?
  • How can healthcare professionals be optimally prepared to adopt and work with new technologies? (keywords: Creating trust and acceptance, conveying skills)?

Selected publications

  • Handke, L., & Wesche, J. S.(in press). Virtual teamwork: What characterizes it, how it works and how to design it [Virtual Teamwork: What characterizes it, how it works, and how to design it]. Psychologische Rundschau. https://doi.org/10.1026/0033-3042/a000661
  • Wesche, J. S., & Handke, L. (2024). Digitisation and automation in training and development: A meta-review of new opportunities and challenges. Personnel Review, 53 (3), 771-790. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-09-2022-0660
  • Wilbert, J. B., Wesche, J. S., Handke, L., & Kerschreiter, R. (2023). Far but close: How leaders can strengthen social identification with virtual teams. Behaviour & Information Technology, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2023.2272202
  • Gersch, M., Meske, C., Bunde, E., Aldoj, N., Wesche, J. S., Wilkens, U., & Dewey, M. (2021). Vertrauen in KI-basierte Radiologie – Erste Erkenntnisse durch eine Stakeholder Konsultation [Trust in AI-based radiology – Initial findings based on a stakeholder consultation]. In M. Bruhn & K. Hadwich (eds.), Künstliche Intelligenz im Dienstleistungsmanagement, Forum Dienstleistungsmanagement, Band 2 (p. 309–335). SpringerGabler-Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-34326-2_12
  • Wesche, J. S., & Sonderegger, A. (2019). When computers take the lead: The automation of leadership. Computers in Human Behavior, 101, 197–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.07.027

Business Administration, esp. Business Application Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Smolnik Photo: Veit Mette

Prof. Dr. Stefan Smolnik

Email: stefan.smolnik

Phone: +49 2331 987–2466

Chair of Business Information Systems

Dr. Alina Bockshecker Photo: Hardy Welsch

Dr. Alina Bockshecker

Email: alina.bockshecker

Phone: +49 2331 987–4038

Chair of Business Information Systems

Keywords

Adoption of and trust in digital health technologies, knowledge management, AI for clinical decision making, FemTechs and female health

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • Acceptance and knowledge exchange through telemedicine/teleconsultations
  • Adoption of digital health analytics for clinical decision support by physicians
  • Use of and trust in artificial intelligence in clinical decision support, rehabilitation and sports for users
  • Impact of digital healthcare in the workplace
  • Female health and effects of the female cycle in the workplace

Selected publications


Business Administration, esp. Design of Socio-technical Information Systems

Prof. Dr. Julia Krönung Photo: Sarah Kastner Fotografie

Prof. Dr. Julia Krönung

Email: julia.kroenung

Phone: +49 2331 987–4761

Chair of Sociotechnical Information Systems Design

Keywords

Barrier factors, process optimization, IT acceptance

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • Acceptance of information technology in the healthcare
  • Change management in healthcare
  • Socio-technical design of health applications
  • Barriers to digital transformation in the healthcare
  • Effect of bureaucracy as an influencing factor on digitization decisions
  • Process optimization

Selected publications


Business Administration, esp. Information Management

Prof. Dr. Till Winkler Photo: Volker Wiciok

Prof. Dr. Till Winkler

Email: till.winkler

Phone: +49 2331 987–4359

Chair of Information Management

Jennifer Kendziorra, M.Sc. Photo: Hardy Welsch

Jennifer Kendziorra, M.Sc.

Email: jennifer.kendziorra

Chair of Information Management

Mustapha Addam, M.Sc. Photo: Hardy Welsch

Mustapha Addam, M.Sc.

Email: mustapha.addam

Phone: +49 2331 987–4410

Chair of Information Management

Keywords

Digital therapeutics (DTx), personal health records (PHR), electronic health records, health information infrastructures, artificial intelligence, user-centered design, trust, acceptance

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • What influences the willingness of healthcare professionals to prescribe digital health applications (DiGA)?
  • How can patients be empowered to use DiGAs sustainably and independently?
  • How must electronic patient records (EPRs) be designed to create added value for their users?
  • How can artificially intelligent patient avatars help to train the communication skills of healthcare staff?
  • How can the tensions involved in modernizing hospital information systems be overcome?
  • How can trust in public health data infrastructures be strengthened?

Selected publications

  • Binzer, B., Kendziorra, J., Witte, A. K., & Winkler, T. J. (2024). Trust in public and private providers of health apps and usage intentions: a sectoral privacy calculus and control perspective. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 66, 273-297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-024-00869-4
  • Kendziorra, J., Witte, A. K., Winkler, T. J., Tong, Y., Kwon, J., & Mishra, A. N. (2023). The quest for national digital agility: Digital responses to COVID-19 in five countries. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 53, 767-795. https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.05332
  • Gimpel, H., Manner-Romberg, T., Schmied, F., & Winkler, T. J. (2021). Understanding the evaluation of mHealth app features based on a cross-country Kano analysis. Electronic Markets, 31, 765-794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-020-00455-y
  • Winkler, T. J., Krogh, S., Plesner, U., Justesen, L., & Jensen, T. (2020). A real “Killer” application? Organization-system misfits of the danish health platform. Proceedings of the 41st International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS). https://research.cbs.dk/en/publications/a-real-killer-application-organization-system-misfits-of-the-dani
  • Winkler, T. J., Ozturk, P., & Brown, C. V. (2016). Sustainability strategies for regional health information organization startups. Health Policy and Technology, 5(4), 341-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2016.07.002

Economics, esp. Economic Policy

Prof. Dr. Matthias Westphal Photo: Hardy Welsch

Prof. Dr. Matthias Westphal

Email: matthias.westphal

Phone: +49 2331 987–2633

Chair of Economics, esp. Economic Policy (DE)

Keywords

Long-term care, healthcare utilization, treatment decisions, program evaluation

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

How are digital (healthcare) innovations changing:

  • The diagnostic quality and quantity of physicians
  • Treatment decisions by doctors and hospitals
  • The use of healthcare services
  • The choice between formal and informal long-term care

Selected publications


Clinical and Health Psychology

Prof. Dr. Hannah Comteße Photo: Hardy Welsch

Prof. Dr. Hannah Comteße

Email: hannah.comtesse

Phone: +49 2331 987–1512

Chair of Clinical and Health Psychology (DE)

Keywords

e-Mental-Health, treatment access, evaluation, psychotraumatology

Research interests & selected publications

Research interests in the field of digital health

  • Access to (online) mental health services
  • Digital screening instruments
  • Effectiveness of (online) interventions

Selected publications

  • Comtesse, H., Smid, G. E., Rummel, A. M., Spreeuwenberg, P., Lundorff, M., & Dückers, M. L. (2024). Cross-national analysis of the prevalence of prolonged grief disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 350, 359-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.094
  • Rosner, R., Rau, J., Kersting, A., Rief, W., Steil, R., Rummel, A. M., Vogel, A., & Comtesse, H. (2024). Grief-specific cognitive behavioral therapy vs present-centered therapy: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.3409
  • Frick, U., Sipar, D., Bücheler, L., Haug, F., Haug, J., Almeqbaali, K. M., Pryss, R., Rosner, R., & Comtesse, H. (2023). A mobile-based preventive intervention for young, Arabic-speaking asylum seekers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: Design and implementation. JMIR Formative Research, 7(1), e44551. https://doi.org/10.2196/44551
  • Haneveld, J., Rosner, R., Vogel, A., Mäkitalo, S., Treml, J., Steil, R., Rief, W., & Comtesse, H. (2022). Introduction and evaluation of a therapeutic adherence and competence scale for grief-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(1), 2079873. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2022.2079873
  • Lechner-Meichsner, F., & Comtesse, H. (2022). Beliefs about causes and cures of prolonged grief disorder among Arab and Sub-Saharan African refugees. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13 (1), 852714. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.852714

Cooperation Partners

ZTG-Logo
The Zentrum für Telematik und Telemedizin GmbH is an expert center for the planning and implementation of specialist events, targeted press and public relations work, telemonitoring and intersectoral, multi-professional telemedicine networks.
medecon-Logo
MedEcon Ruhr is the healthcare industry’s network in Germany’s largest conurbation, the Ruhr metropolitan region. It’s members include more than 170 companies and institutions from the hospital industry, the healthcare provision and research sectors as well as the supplying industries. The FernUniversität in Hagen has been a member of MedEcon Ruhr e.V. since spring 2023.
Healthshapers-logo
The Healthcare Shapers are a network of experienced consultants and interim managers in the healthcare industry.
vkh-nrw_schmal-Logo The Virtual Hospital North Rhine-Westphalia is an independent digital and free mediation and service platform that facilitates the exchange of information between medical professionals via teleconsultation.
The VKh.NRW stopped operating in December 2024.
 

Contact

Dr. Anita Mörth Photo: FernUniversität

Dr. Anita Mörth

Coordination, Application Management, Acquisition of Third-party Funding

Email: digital.health

Phone: +49 2331 987–4062

WED