Supporting the self-management of obesity: The role of information and communication technology Presentation at SIHI conference University of Portsmouth, September 18, 2009

Research and policy context Policy Research Programme at DH: The role of technology in supporting chronic disease management, self care and healthy living ICT as ‘a key technology in enabling the engagement of the public and patients in their own care’

The Net.Weight project Investigating the potential for increased, innovative and effective uses of ICTs in the self-management of obesity (weight management) Local focus – Brighton & Hove; action-oriented approach; strong input from local partners in health and HI fields What information and support do people know about, find accessible, useable and useful for weight management? How does this fit with the resources that are provided by the local health and HI providers? What role do ICTs currently have and what further applications can be identified in this context?

Provider mapping Mapping local information providers PCT and city council’s Active for Life: Relevant info but hard to find Prototype web-based directory of local information providers + resources relating to weight management A tool for the workshops – engaging people in an evaluation of information provided Web 2.0 features – discussion groups; blogs; creating, commenting and rating content

User mapping Survey–overweight people in B&H actively managing weight;distribution throughout community, 400 responses  Older (majority over 45) female (83%) respondents  40% with one or more chronic condition  Most think being o/weight has negative impact on their lives  People self-care rather than going to doctor/practice nurse  Poor experiences with HPs in past but still want them to care  High internet access (80%)  Most report confidence in information skills  Information sources diverse (slimming groups, magazines, food labelling)  Very little use of online weight loss programmes  Very little use of online support for WM  Lack of awareness of local sources of information and support for WM

Participatory learning workshops Input from provider mapping, survey, focus groups and community planning meeting Survey respondents were asked to participate in learning workshops – and to help design them Interests and needs –  Support + advice for people with specific health needs  Information about local activities – as opposed to general HL information  Information from trustworthy, non-commercial sources  Improved food labelling  Local support networks  Information for men

Net.weight Community

39 participants, 3 groups, series of 4 workshops per group: 1.Information guided tour 2.Sharing and community 3.In our own words 4.Making the future In the local community Participatory Peer-supported learning Critical engagement with information and technologies

Information ? Local people, local information, local services

Posted June 23rd, 2008 by Alexander *** Above is a link to my walk to work which takes me about 40 minutes and I burn 224 calories. I do vary it thou depending on my mood distance duration calories burnt cost carbon footprint 2.36 miles 4748 steps 3.80 km 224 calories £ 0 Attached is a picture of my gradient of my walk to work Motivation and support? Local support groups, local activities, tailored to meet specific needs

Writing and sharing via Blogs? Inspiration and self- motivation

Users or designers? Re-designing a local website More interactivity and opportunity to ‘talk back’ Like interactive features of BBC and NHS Choices but want ‘local flavour’ Want something more welcoming to older people

What’s been learned?  Information is a necessary but not sufficient condition for self care – support and motivation are bigger issues  Self care is difficult in this area as causes and consequences of condition are beyond scope of individual action alone  Need for broader, more collective approach to WM which can enhance confidence and effect change in environment  Local activity and action is easy to stimulate and build on  Internet-based tools can be used to support a ‘blended’ approach to WM in the community (on- and off-line)  Greater need to build on expertise of those engaged in WM when planning information and ICT design, developments and interventions  Engage public as citizens not patients- new forms of governance not just choice  There is further potential in linking health, digital inclusion and community engagement agendas

Further information Net.Weight Project Team: At the University of Brighton Professor Flis Henwood, Project Director Ms Audrey Marshall, Dr Elizabeth Guy, Senior Research Fellows Ms Tanja Sinozic, Research Officer (User Survey Report) Ms Laura Bottomley and Mr Ian Hockaday, Project Administrators At the Brighton and Sussex Medical School Professor Helen Smith Dr Leslie Carlin, Research Fellow In the community Mr Mark Walker, Sussex Community Internet Project (SCIP)